Rational engineering of single-chain polypeptides into protein-only, BBB-targeted nanoparticles

Author

Serna, Naroa

Céspedes, María Virtudes

Saccardo, Paolo

Xu, Zhikun

Unzueta Elorza, Ugutz

Álamo, Patricia

Pesarrodona Roches, Mireia

Sánchez Chardi, Alejandro

Roldán, Mónica

Mangues, Ramon

Vázquez Gómez, Esther

Villaverde Corrales, Antonio

Ferrer-Miralles, Neus

Publication date

2016

Abstract

A single chain polypeptide containing the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) ligand Seq-1 with blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing activity has been successfully modified by conventional genetic engineering to self-assemble into stable protein-only nanoparticles of 30 nm. The nanoparticulate presentation dramatically enhances in vitro, LDLR-dependent cell penetrability compared to the parental monomeric version, but the assembled protein does not show any enhanced brain targeting upon systemic administration. While the presentation of protein drugs in form of nanoparticles is in general advantageous regarding correct biodistribution, this principle might not apply to brain targeting that is hampered by particular bio-physical barriers. Irrespective of this fact, which is highly relevant to the nanomedicine of central nervous system, engineering the cationic character of defined protein stretches is revealed here as a promising and generic approach to promote the controlled oligomerization of biologically active protein species as still functional, regular nanoparticles.

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Subjects and keywords

Biodistribution; LDLR; Nanoparticles; Protein engineering; Self-assembling

Publisher

 

Related items

Nanomedicine ; Vol. 12 Núm. 5 (Juliol 2016), p. 1241-1251

Rights

open access

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