Nanotrace
Nanotrace is developing RNA-targeted cancer therapeutics using engineered nanoparticles called Nanoparticle Oligo Arrays (NOAs) that enter every cell, bind oncogenic mRNA, and release their drug payload only where a cancer signature is present. This approach aims to reduce off-target toxicity and improve dose concentration in solid tumors like triple-negative breast, pancreatic, and glioblastoma.
- Biotechnology
- Drug Discovery & Therapeutics
- Healthcare Technology
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Cancer drugs often fail because delivery systems are inefficient: 30–60% of each dose is sequestered in the liver and spleen before reaching the tumor, and many solid tumors lack reliable surface protein markers for targeted therapy. This results in healthy organs absorbing toxicity while the tumor never receives a therapeutic dose.
Solution
Nanotrace engineers Nanoparticle Oligo Arrays (NOAs)—particles about 1/10,000 the size of a human cell—that enter every cell, read its RNA, and release a drug payload only when an oncogenic mRNA signature is present. The densely-packed oligos on the particle surface enable membrane penetration, while sequence-specific binding to target mRNA triggers strand displacement and selective payload release. In healthy cells without the target RNA, the particle passes through inert and clears without exposing tissue to the drug. This mechanism concentrates the dose inside the tumor rather than in the liver, spleen, or healthy tissue, addressing both delivery and targeting failures simultaneously.
Target Audience
Primary customers are oncology drug developers and clinical researchers focused on solid tumors that lack reliable surface protein targets, including those working on triple-negative breast, pancreatic, and glioblastoma indications.
Features
- Nanoparticle platform approximately 1/10,000 the size of a human cell, enabling intracellular access
- Densely-packed oligo surface chemistry that facilitates plasma membrane crossing where naked nucleic acids are rejected
- Sequence-specific binding to oncogenic mRNA for intracellular cancer recognition
- Strand-displacement mechanism that triggers payload release only upon target RNA binding, sparing healthy cells
- Designed for solid tumors lacking surface protein markers, including triple-negative breast, pancreatic, and glioblastoma