Development of biodegradable nanocarriers loaded with a monoclonal antibody

Andrew Gdowski1,2, Amalendu Ranjan3,4, Anindita Mukerjee5,6

  • 1Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. andrewgdowski@gmail.com.

Insights

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles successfully encapsulate monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy. This novel nanoformulation enhances intracellular delivery and antibody functionality, offering a promising approach for targeting intracellular cancer proteins.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Nanomedicine
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Monoclonal antibody therapies targeting intracellular cancer proteins face challenges with cellular uptake and degradation.
  • Effective delivery of antibodies into cancer cells is crucial for novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the feasibility of encapsulating monoclonal antibodies into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles.
  • To develop a PLGA-based nanoformulation for efficient intracellular delivery of functional antibodies to cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a water/oil/water double emulsion solvent evaporation technique for nanoparticle preparation.
  • Characterized nanoparticles for size, polydispersity index, encapsulation efficiency, and antibody loading.
  • Assessed sustained release and functionality of encapsulated antibodies.

Main Results:

  • Formulated nanoparticles with an average size of 221–252 nm and low polydispersity.
  • Achieved encapsulation efficiencies of 16%–22% and antibody loading of 0.3%–1.12%.
  • Demonstrated sustained release of functional antibodies from the PLGA nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

  • Successfully formulated antibody-loaded PLGA nanoparticles as a viable intracellular delivery system.
  • PLGA-based nanoformulations show promise for delivering antibodies to intracellular targets in cancer cells.
  • This approach supports the development of new therapies for intracellular protein-protein interactions in cancer.