title: Structure and biological activity of pathogen-like synthetic nanomedicines.
abstract: Here we characterize the structure, stability and intracellular mode of action of DermaVir nanomedicine that is under clinical development for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This nanomedicine comprises pathogen-like pDNA/PEIm nanoparticles (NPs) having the structure and function resembling spherical viruses that naturally evolved to deliver nucleic acids to the cells. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated spherical 100 - 200 nm NPs with a smooth polymer surface protecting the pDNA in the core. Optical absorption determined both the NP structural stability and biological activity relevant to their ability to escape from the endosome and release the pDNA at the nucleus. Salt, pH and temperature influence nanomedicine shelf-life and intracellular stability. This approach facilitates the development of diverse polyplex nanomedicines where the delivered pDNA-expressed antigens induce immune responses to kill infected cells.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The authors investigated DermaVir nanomedicine comprised of pathogen-like pDNA/PEIm nanoparticles with structure and function resembling spherical viruses. DermaVir delivery of pDNA expresses antigens that induce immune responses to kill HIV infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Immunity Kft, Budapest, Berlini u., Hungary.
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lőrincz
authors.forename: Enikő R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Tőke
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somogyi
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horkay
authors.forename: Preethi L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Jack F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szebeni
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lisziewicz
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; C501366:DermaVir; D004247:DNA