Engineered nanoparticles mimicking cell membranes for toxin neutralization

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2015 Aug 1:90:69-80. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.04.001. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Abstract

Protein toxins secreted from pathogenic bacteria and venomous animals rely on multiple mechanisms to overcome the cell membrane barrier to inflict their virulence effect. A promising therapeutic concept toward developing a broadly applicable anti-toxin platform is to administer cell membrane mimics as decoys to sequester these virulence factors. As such, lipid membrane-based nanoparticulates are an ideal candidate given their structural similarity to cellular membranes. This article reviews the virulence mechanisms employed by toxins at the cell membrane interface and highlights the application of cell-membrane mimicking nanoparticles as toxin decoys for systemic detoxification. In addition, the implication of particle/toxin nanocomplexes in the development of toxoid vaccines is discussed.

Keywords: Anti-toxin nanoparticles; Cell membranes; Detoxification; Liposomes; Nanosponges; Virulence factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Poisoning / drug therapy*
  • Toxins, Biological / toxicity*
  • Toxoids / therapeutic use
  • Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Antitoxins
  • Toxins, Biological
  • Toxoids
  • Vaccines