Mempro™ Virus-like Particles (VLPs) as Delivery Systems
Creative Biostructure has developed a novel virus-like particles (VLPs) platform for a variety of applications. One major application of our unparalleled virus-like particle technology is using VLPs as delivery systems.
Figure 1. Schematic flowchart outlining encapsulation and surface modulation of HEV VLP as delivery systems.
Creative Biostructure can design and produce various chimeric VLP (cVLPs) by genetically fusing or chemically conjugating to stimulate the immunity against foreign epitopes. We are able to fuse the antigens to VLPs by covalent bonds or non-covalent bonds. The most common covalent conjugation strategy is to use the chemical cross-linkers with sulfhydryl and amine arms; while the non-covalent conjugation strategy is to use the linkers (streptavidin, etc.) for biotinylated antigens attachment by the specific and efficient interactions. Creative Biostructure has successfully purified the capsid protein VP1 from Simian virus 40 (SV40) into SV40-VLP assembly in vitro. As a potential carrier, SV40-VLP can deliver heterologous antigens without artificial adjuvants.
Mempro™ Virus-like Particles (VLPs) platform provides delivery systems for various compounds such as drugs, DNA, siRNA and protein/peptide. Our advanced VLPs encapsulation technology prevents drugs to degradate in blood and aims the drugs directly to the target cells. VLPs delivery systems help drugs to be more soluble, biocompatible, high-uptaken, and with less toxicity. Delivery of foreign DNA by non-replicating VLPs is with great valuable for vaccination and gene therapy, and the direct interaction between VLPs and plasmid DNA is the most efficient method for DNA delivery. Creative Biostructure has also successfully developed several efficient siRNA delivery systems by PEI-modified VLPs, increasing both the stability and cell-penetrating properties of siRNA. In order to deliver proteins and peptides, we can use viral-like particles as a carrier in vivo and in vitro. There are several examples for delivery of protein/peptide using VLPs as follows:
1) AP205-derived VLPs present peptides of self-antigens or pathogens were fused to either the N- or C- terminal regions of AP205 coat protein were highly immunogenic in mice;
2) A target peptide of the RSV G protein (170-190) was delivered on the surface of AlMV particles to induce high pathogen-specific immune responses;
3) VLPs encapsulated Flt3 ligand could increase immunogenicity effectively in mice.
Besides delivery systems, Creative Biostructure has also applied Mempro™ Virus-like Particles (VLPs) platform in various fields such as lipoparticles, vaccines, cell targeting, biosensor and bioimaging, etc. Please feel free to contact us for a detailed quote.
References:
Z. Shirbaghaee, et al. (2015). Different Applications of Virus-Like Particles in Biology and Medicine: Vaccination and Delivery Systems. Biopolymers, 105(3): 113–132.
M. Kawano, et al. (2013). SV40 Virus-like Particles as an Effective Delivery System and its Application to a Vaccine Carrier.Expert Review of Vaccines,12(2): 199–220.
P. Roy, et al. (2009). Virus-Like Particles as a Vaccine Delivery System: Myths and Facts. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology,655: 145-158.
