Abstract:
The invention provides novel antibiotic protocells comprising mesoporous nanoparticles encapsulated within a lipid bi- or multilayer. The nanoparticles have pore sizes and surface chemistries that enable facile adsorption and intracellular presentation of antibiotics which are effective in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, including F. tularensis, B. pseudomallei and P. aeruginosa-related infections. Related pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also provided.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a delivery platform that can be used to genetically modify a target in a plant or an alga. In one instance, polypeptides and/or polynucleotides can be delivered using silica delivery platforms, e.g., silica carriers or protocells. Such platforms can be employed to control gene activation and repression in the plant or alga.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to protocells, which have a core and a lipid bilayer surrounding the core, with at least one CD47 molecule or an active fragment thereof in or conjugated to the lipid bilayer. The CD47 present on the lipid bilayer allows the protocell to evade phagocytosis by macrophages, and can be conjugated to the lipid bilayer via a crosslinker. The protocell can be loaded with a diagnostic or therapeutic cargo, such as a polypeptide, a nucleic acid, or a drug. The protocell can also include a targeting species for targeted delivery of the cargo to a cell. The protocell can also include an endosomolytic peptide, which promotes endosomal escape after uptake by the targeted cell. The protocells with CD47 on the lipid bilayer provide better circulation after in vivo administration compared to protocells without CD47, and are therefore particularly useful as a cargo delivery vehicle.