CXCR4+-targeted protein nanoparticles produced in the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis

Abstract

Altres ajuts: CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (project NANOPROTHER). A Villaverde received an ICREA ACADEMIA award. OC Garrido received a PhD fellowship from MECD and EGF a postdoctoral fellowship from INIA (DOC-INIA, INIA, MINECO). Unzueta received a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from ISCIII.

Aim: Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive (endotoxin-free) food-grade bacteria exploited as alternative to Escherichia coli for recombinant protein production. We have explored here for the first time the ability of this platform as producer of complex, self-assembling protein materials. Materials & methods: Biophysical properties, cell penetrability and in vivo biodistribution upon systemic administration of tumor-targeted protein nanoparticles produced in L. lactis have been compared with the equivalent material produced in E. coli. Results: Protein nanoparticles have been efficiently produced in L. lactis, showing the desired size, internalization properties and biodistribution. Conclusion: In vitro and in vivo data confirm the potential and robustness of the production platform, pointing out L. lactis as a fascinating cell factory for the biofabrication of protein materials intended for therapeutic applications.