title: Design of a VLP-nanovehicle for CYP450 enzymatic activity delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The intracellular delivery of enzymes for therapeutic use has a promising future for the treatment of several diseases such as genetic disorders and cancer. Virus-like particles offer an interesting platform for enzymatic delivery to targeted cells because of their great cargo capacity and the enhancement of the biocatalyst stability towards several factors important in the practical application of these nanoparticles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have designed a nano-bioreactor based on the encapsulation of a cytochrome P450 (CYP) inside the capsid derived from the bacteriophage P22. An enhanced peroxigenase, CYPBM3, was selected as a model enzyme because of its potential in enzyme prodrug therapy. A total of 109 enzymes per capsid were encapsulated with a 70 % retention of activity for cytochromes with the correct incorporation of the heme cofactor. Upon encapsulation, the stability of the enzyme towards protease degradation and acidic pH was increased. Cytochrome P450 activity was delivered into Human cervix carcinoma cells via transfecting P22-CYP nanoparticles with lipofectamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work provides a clear demonstration of the potential of biocatalytic virus-like particles as medical relevant enzymatic delivery vehicles for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62250, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. lorena.sanchez83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km 107 carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. mtapia@cicese.edu.mx.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tapia-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km 107 carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. kjuarez@cnyn.unam.mx.|Cátedras CONACyT affiliated to CNyN-UNAM, Ensenada, Mexico. kjuarez@cnyn.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Juarez-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, 75799, TX, USA. dpatterson@uttyler.edu.
authors.forename: Dustin P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km 107 carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. rcadena74@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ruben D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cadena-Nava
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. trevdoug@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km 107 carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. rvd@cnyn.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Duhalt
mesh_terms: D017100:Bacteriophage P22 / Q000737:chemistry*; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System