title: Adaptations of nanoscale viruses and other protein cages for medical applications.
abstract: Nanosized materials (5-100 nm) with multiple functionalities (cell targeting, drug delivery, and bio-imaging) have emerged over the recent years as promising therapeutic agents. Liposomal carriers, amphiphilic co-polymers, silica-based particles, colloidal systems, and dendrimer clusters are among the many available nanoscale scaffolds that have been explored for medical applications such as gene delivery, bio-imaging, and drug delivery. On the other hand, viruses, ferritin, and other protein cages for ages have self-organized in the nanometer range with biologically relevant functionalities. These bio-inspired systems form monodispersed units that are highly amendable through genetic and chemical modifications. In this review the expansion of these protein-based nanosystems, termed bionanoparticles (BNPs), beyond their native functionalities, and their application as building materials for nanomedicine will be discussed. The recent developments of biology-inspired systems with potential medical applications will be outlined, with particular emphasis on adaptations of protein-based nanostructures for gene delivery, bio-imaging, drug encapsulation, and vaccine development. Notable systems already streamlined for medical applications are recombinant virus-like particles derived from human papillomaviruses as multivalent vaccine carriers to immunize patients against genital infections, and vaccinia viruses to treat patients with established cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Nanocenter, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA.
authors.forename: L Andrew
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011506:Proteins; D014612:Vaccines