Cell-Specific Delivery Using an Engineered Protein Nanocage

ACS Chem Biol. 2021 May 21;16(5):838-843. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00007. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Abstract

Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have shown great promise for theranostics and bioimaging on the laboratory scale due to favorable pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. In this study, we examine the utility of a cage-forming variant of the protein lumazine synthase, which was previously designed and evolved to encapsulate biomacromolecular cargo. Linking antibody-binding domains to the exterior of the cage enabled binding of targeting immunoglobulins and cell-specific uptake of encapsulated cargo. Protein nanocages displaying antibody-binding domains appear to be less immunogenic than their unmodified counterparts, but they also recruit serum antibodies that can mask the efficacy of the targeting antibody. Our study highlights the strengths and limitations of a common targeting strategy for practical nanoparticle-based delivery applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Drug Compounding
  • Drug Liberation
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Multienzyme Complexes / chemistry*
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry*
  • Protein Engineering
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Nanocapsules
  • 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine synthase