Encapsulation of mature virus particles within a synthetic lipid envelope leverages a bilayer assembled from selected lipids—including fatty acids, vitamin E, and farnesylthiosalicylic acid derivatives—along with key co-lipids such as phospholipids, cholesterol, and DOPE. A hydrophilic polymer like PEG is attached via a cleavable linkage that responds to tumor-specific conditions, such as low pH, to ensure targeted release. This approach mimics natural enveloped virus forms, preserving and even enhancing viral infectivity while protecting the virus during systemic circulation by reducing neutralization from antibodies and avoiding premature clearance.
Description
What differentiates this technology is its biomimetic design that goes beyond traditional PEGylation methods. The controlled shedding of the synthetic envelope upon encountering the tumor microenvironment allows precise activation of the virus, addressing challenges like rapid clearance and diminished infectivity seen in conventional systems. Comprehensive experimental validation has demonstrated enhanced delivery efficiency and targeted infection, highlighting its potential as a superior platform for viral-based therapies and other applications requiring robust, controlled delivery mechanisms.
Applications
- Targeted cancer gene therapy
- Oncolytic virus therapy
- Viral vaccine development
- Systemic viral delivery
Advantages
- Enhanced viral infectivity by mimicking the natural enveloped virus form
- Improved systemic delivery through reduced immune clearance and antibody neutralization
- Targeted release at tumor sites via pH-sensitive, cleavable PEG-FTS linkage
- Versatile platform applicable to multiple virus types and tumor models
- Stable encapsulation that preserves or enhances therapeutic efficacy with repeat dosing
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200316146A1
