The Role of Virus-Like Particles in Medical Biotechnology

Abstract

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are protein-based, nanoscale, self-assembling, cage architectures, which have relevant applications in biomedicine. They can be used for the development of vaccines, imaging approaches, drug and gene therapy delivery systems, and in vitro diagnostic methods. Today, three relevant viruses are targeted using VLP-based recombinant vaccines. VLPbased drug delivery, nanoreactors for therapy, and imaging systems are approaches under development with promising outcomes. Several VLP-based vaccines are under clinical evaluation. Herein, an updated view on the VLP-based biomedical applications is provided; advanced methods for the production, functionalization, and drug loading of VLPs are described, and perspectives for the field are identified.

Virus-Like Particles: Revolutionary Platforms for Developing Vaccines Against Emerging Infectious Diseases

“…The size range is optimal to drain them freely into lymphatic nodes and for easier uptake by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), particularly dendritic cells (DCs), followed by antigen processing and presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules ( Syomin and Ilyin, 2019 ). They are highly organized and can be self-assembled into different geometric symmetry, generally in the form of icosahedral, helical symmetry, rod shape structure, or globular in shape, depending on the virus’s source ( Comas-Garcia et al, 2020 ).…”

Can Virus-like Particles Be Used as Synergistic Agent in Pest Management?

“…These systems comprise the administration and controlled-release delivery of pharmaceutical compounds to a specific area in tissues, improving efficacy and safety [ 112 ]. Emerging research focuses on the development of protein-based NPs derived from viral capsids (VLPs) as targeted therapeutic delivery agents [ 39 , 113 , 114 ] ( Table 2 ). Indeed, VLPs can pack and deliver therapeutic cargo such as chemotherapeutic drugs, nucleic acids, proteins, and peptides.…”

Engineered Protein Nanocages for Concurrent RNA and Protein Packaging In Vivo

“…62 A topic of particular current interest is the selective packaging and delivery of nucleic acids inside protein-based cages. 1,63 Engineering such systems has shed light on the evolution and function of viruses and allowed the creation of nonviral systems mimicking select virus characteristics. 21,64−66 The ability to encapsulate nucleic acids in vivo may provide novel approaches for RNA regulation and cytosolic sampling 21 with broad implications for RNA biology.…”

“…A topic of particular current interest is the selective packaging and delivery of nucleic acids inside protein-based cages. , Engineering such systems has shed light on the evolution and function of viruses and allowed the creation of nonviral systems mimicking select virus characteristics. ,− The ability to encapsulate nucleic acids in vivo may provide novel approaches for RNA regulation and cytosolic sampling with broad implications for RNA biology. − RNA- and DNA-based therapeutics have tremendous clinical potential. , However, their broad application has been hampered by poor pharmacokinetic properties, difficulty in overcoming cell membranes, susceptibility to nucleases, inherent immunogenicity, and rapid clearance from the body. , These challenges could be overcome by engineering efficient nucleic acid delivery systems, with many different approaches and materials already having been employed toward achieving this goal. ,− Due to their desirable properties and engineerability, protein cages, in general, and encapsulins, in particular, represent a promising alternative strategy for nucleic acid packaging and delivery. In addition, expanding encapsulin function toward nucleic acid encapsulation would allow for the concurrent sequestration and colocalization of proteins and nucleic acids.…”