Our stem cell targeting tool is based on the NFL peptide. This peptide consists of 24 amino acids, and its endogenous sequence is derived from neurofilaments. It is relatively easy to produce in the laboratory and has already demonstrated strong results in vitro and in vivo, showcasing its targeting capability and good tolerance in animals.

The NFL peptide possesses the unique ability to specifically target both neural stem cells and cancer stem cells. This rare capability, protected by a patent, makes it a strategic tool for precision medicine, capable of transforming the way treatments are delivered.

By leveraging NFL, it becomes possible to deliver, with high precision, both existing therapeutic molecules (in a drug repositioning strategy) and candidates currently in development directly to their cellular targets.

By acting as a homing device or a therapeutic vehicle, NFL ensures the precise addressing of treatments while effectively crossing the blood-brain barrier, one of the major obstacles for brain treatments, thereby opening major perspectives in the treatment of neurological cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

Our technology aims to optimize treatment efficacy through more precise targeting while significantly reducing associated side effects. In the context of cancer, our system also offers the potential to substantially decrease tumor recurrence, which is often driven by the resistance of cancer stem cells to standard therapies.

The versatility of our delivery platform lies in the types of molecules it can carry, whether for therapeutic, diagnostic, or theranostic purposes.

NFL can be exploited through two complementary approaches to effectively target neural and cancer stem cells : 

1- Delivery via Nanoparticles
In this strategy, the transported molecules are encapsulated in lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), liposomes, or extracellular vesicles. The surface of these capsules is decorated with the NFL peptide, which acts as a targeting "beacon," guiding the nanoparticle to the intended stem cells. This method allows the payload to be delivered in a targeted and protected manner, while optimizing the crossing of biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier. 

2- Direct conjugation
In this second approach, NFL is covalently linked to the molecule to be delivered. This direct coupling transforms the peptide into a true "homing device," ensuring that the molecule specifically reaches its cellular target without intermediate steps. 

These two modes of application provide flexibility to adapt the INC01 platform for different types of treatments, whether therapeutic, diagnostic, or theranostic.