Nanoparticles for the delivery of genes and drugs to human hepatocytes.
Hepatitis B virus envelope L particles form hollow nanoparticles displaying a peptide that is indispensable for liver-specific infection by hepatitis B virus in humans. Here we demonstrate the use of L particles for the efficient and specific transfer of a gene or drug into human hepatocytes both in culture and in a mouse xenograft model. In this model, intravenous injection of L particles carrying the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) or a fluorescent dye resulted in observable fluorescence only in human hepatocellular carcinomas but not in other human carcinomas or in mouse tissues. When the gene encoding human clotting factor IX was transferred into the xenograft model using L particles, factor IX was produced at levels relevant to the treatment of hemophilia B. The yeast-derived L particle is free of viral genomes, highly specific to human liver cells and able to accommodate drugs as well as genes. These advantages should facilitate targeted delivery of genes and drugs to the human liver.
Yamada
Tadanori
T
Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
Iwasaki
Yasushi
Y
Tada
Hiroko
H
Iwabuki
Hidehiko
H
Chuah
Marinee K L
MK
VandenDriessche
Thierry
T
Fukuda
Hideki
H
Kondo
Akihiko
A
Ueda
Masakazu
M
Seno
Masaharu
M
Tanizawa
Katsuyuki
K
Kuroda
Shun'ichi
S
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D010316:Particle Size; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
C096362:L protein, hepatitis B virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D004247:DNA