title: Folic acid-conjugated protein cages of a plant virus: a novel delivery platform for doxorubicin.
abstract: The protein cage of a plant virus may provide a template for monodispersed nanosized systems for drug delivery. Using the Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRSV) as a model plant virus, we have prepared nanosized protein cages (30 nm) capable of encapsulating the anticancer drug, doxorubicin. The technique utilized the simultaneous encapsulation of a polyprotic acid of mw 200 kDa to produce an encapsulation efficiency for doxorubicin of about 7.5%. Folic acid was conjugated onto the capsids to impart cancer-targeting capability. The resultant nanosized systems improved the uptake and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in the ovarian cancer cells, OVCAR-3, with statistical significance. Plant virus capsids may therefore provide viable templates for targeted drug delivery in cancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543.
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Sek Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Lee-Yong
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D001692:Biological Transport; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005492:Folic Acid