title: Recombinant virus like particles as drug delivery system.
abstract: The drug delivery system described here is based on a virus like particle consisting of the recombinant expressed major capsid protein of Polyomavirus, VP1. Polyoma, a murine virus belonging to the Papovaviridae, forms a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid. These capsids are organized as a double shell composed of three different proteins: VP1,VP2 and VP3. The outer shell of the vision is composed of 360 VP1 molecules arranged as 72 pentamers. These capsids have a diameter of about 50 nm. The VP1 protein acts as a major ligand for certain membrane receptors during virus infection. Furthermore, the N-terminus of the VP1 protein contains a DNA-binding domain and a nuclear localization sequence. The recombinant production of the VP1 protein offers a save way to obtain a highly purified, non pathogenic pharmaceutical excipient. Combining these aspects, VP1 proteins provide a targeting as well as a drug binding site when used as a save drug carrier for gene therapy. Current applications are also including oligonucleotides as well as small molecules as well as vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Schubertstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georgens
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weyermann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins