Bio-nanocapsule conjugated with liposomes for in vivo pinpoint delivery of various materials

J Control Release. 2008 Mar 20;126(3):255-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2007.12.002. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Abstract

Bio-nanocapsules (BNCs) consisting of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) are approximately 50-nm hollow particles displaying a human hepatocyte-recognizing molecule (pre-S1 peptide). They have been used as an HB vaccine for the last two decades. Original BNC can incorporate various payloads (e.g., drugs, genes) by electroporation and deliver them to human hepatocytes specifically by utilizing the HBV infection mechanism. Here, we developed a new BNC conjugated with liposomes and succeeded in incorporating large materials (100-nm fluorescence-labeled polystyrene beads and >30 kbp plasmids) into the BNC-liposome complex. The complex delivered these large materials to human hepatocytes specifically ex vivo and in vivo. The transfection efficiency of the BNC-liposome complex was significantly higher than that of the original BNC. These results indicated that BNC confers the tissue- and cell-specificity on the conventional liposomes and raises new possibilities for drug delivery systems, gene delivery systems, and bio-imaging systems in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • DNA / administration & dosage
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / chemistry
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Liposomes
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microspheres
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Plasmids
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Nanocapsules
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • DNA