Various strategies, such as optimization of surface chemistry, size, shape, and charge, have been undertaken to develop nanoparticles (NPs) as DDS (drug delivery system) nanocarriers for evading the reticuloendothelial system (RES) in vivo. We previously developed a hollow NP composed of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen L proteins and lipid bilayers, hereinafter referred to as bio-nanocapsule (BNC), as a nonviral DDS nanocarrier. Such a BNC harbors the HBV-derived human hepatic cell-specific infection mechanism, and intravenously injected BNCs by themselves were shown to avoid clearance by RES-rich organs and accumulate in target tissues. In this study, since the surface modification with albumins is known to prolong the circulation time of nanomedicines, we examined whether the polymerized albumin receptor (PAR) of BNCs contributes to RES evasion in mouse liver. Our results show that NPs conjugated with peptides possessing sufficient PAR activity were captured by Kupffer cells less efficiently in vitro and were able to circulate for a longer period of time in vivo. Comparing with polyethylene glycol, PAR peptides were shown to reduce the recognition by RES to equal content. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the PAR domain of BNCs, as well as HBV, harbors an innate RES evasion mechanism. Therefore, the surface modification with PAR peptides could be an alternative strategy for improving the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of forthcoming nanomedicines.
Keywords: albumin; bio-nanocapsule; hepatitis B virus; nanoparticle; polymerized human serum albumin receptor; reticuloendothelial system.