A novel drug delivery system based on jcv-vlp

Abstract

The invention relates to VLP derived from human polyoma virus loaded with a drug (cargo) as a drug delivery system for transporting said drug into the CNS, in particular of living humans.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to the use of virus like particles (VLP) of the type of human polyoma virus for the use as drug delivery system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]One of the major challenges in modern medicine is the drug delivery. Drug delivery to a selected site of action (e.g. a selected organ, tissue, cell type, or microcompartment of a cell, etc.) is called drug targeting. By drug targeting an increase of drug concentration at this specific site becomes possible even with a systemic application of the drug. Additionally, contrary to the ordinary systemic application, the rest of the body is not or only to a lower extend exposed to the drug. This leads to a reduced risk of adverse side effects and can allow a higher dosing of the drug. Furthermore, very toxic drugs (e.g. cytotoxic agents used in cancer therapeutics) may be applicable to humans for the first time, since their toxic side effects are minimized by the drug delivery system. In some cas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]As outlined above, according to the invention, the VLP are used for drug delivery into the CNS, in particular into the brain. The delivery into the brain can enable a drug targeting into specific cells, e.g. by taking advantage of the natural tropism of the human Polyoma virus (specifically of JCV).

Problems solved by technology

One of the major challenges in modern medicine is the drug delivery.

Drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS), in particular into the brain, is a great challenge, since the active ingredients at first have to cross the blood-brain barrier and then have to reach the target cells.

Nearly 95% of all effective in vitro drug candidates are not able to pass the BBB in pharmacologically active concentrations.

This includes the risk of adverse side effects.

These nanoparticles often face the problem that they are exported from the CNS by efflux pumps which are expressed in the BBB.

Thus, the protective function of the BBB is put under risk, including the risk of side effects by the entry of unwanted substances or infective entities into the CNS.

This substantial disadvantage is critical for the clinical application of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems.

However, these observations do not provide sound insights into the suitability of VLP, in particular VLP derived from human Polyoma virus and loaded with a cargo, as a drug delivery system for the CNS.

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