United Immunity develops innovative pullulan-based nanoparticle (PNP) and pullulan coated lipid nanoparticle (P-LNP) that actively target myeloid cells to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to myeloid cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells for the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune, fibrosis and metabolic diseases.

Our Myeloid Targeting Platform™ includes the twins of nanoparticles derived from pullulan polysaccharide: pullulan nanoparticle (PNP) and pullulan-coated, PEG-free lipid nanoparticle (P-LNP). PNP is useful for the delivery of small molecules, peptides, and proteins. P-LNP can encapsulate mRNA, siRNA, and DNA. By using either nanoparticle, almost any therapeutic agents can be delivered to disease- and vaccination-associated, DC-SIGN-expressing myeloid cells selectively. 

DC-SIGN-expressing myeloid cells are certain subsets of macrophages and dendritic cells. They are localized in the diseased tissues as well as the normal lymphoid organs. For example, many solid tumors contain DC-SIGN-expressing tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) abundantly that have strong immune suppressive functions and thereby support immune escape and treatment-resistance of tumor cells. Myeloid Targeting Platform™ can deliver therapeutic agents to these TAMs to manipulate their function, leading to reversal of tumor immune suppression.