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Published on: February 8, 2017
CXCR4(+)-targeted protein nanoparticles produced in the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis
Olivia Cano-Garrido1,2,3, María Virtudes Céspedes3,4, Ugutz Unzueta3,4
1Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
Aim:
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.
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.
Conclusion:
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.
