title: CXCR4(+)-targeted protein nanoparticles produced in the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive (endotoxin-free) food-grade bacteria exploited as alternative to Escherichia coli for recombinant protein production. We have explored here for the first time the ability of this platform as producer of complex, self-assembling protein materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biophysical properties, cell penetrability and in vivo biodistribution upon systemic administration of tumor-targeted protein nanoparticles produced in L. lactis have been compared with the equivalent material produced in E. coli.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protein nanoparticles have been efficiently produced in L. lactis, showing the desired size, internalization properties and biodistribution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro and in vivo data confirm the potential and robustness of the production platform, pointing out L. lactis as a fascinating cell factory for the biofabrication of protein materials intended for therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cano-Garrido
authors.affiliation: CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Oncogenesis & Antitumor Drug Group, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María Virtudes
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Céspedes
authors.affiliation: CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Oncogenesis & Antitumor Drug Group, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ugutz
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Unzueta
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saccardo
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microscòpia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roldán
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microscòpia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Chardi
authors.affiliation: Departament de Matemàtica Aplicada IV. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Jordi Girona 1-3. 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cubarsi
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Oncogenesis & Antitumor Drug Group, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mangues
authors.affiliation: Department of Ruminant Production, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Fruitós
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.|CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villaverde
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000235:genetics*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: protein nanoparticles; recombinant proteins; tumor-homing peptides