Multifunctional antibody-conjugated coiled-coil protein nanoparticles for selective cell targeting

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Immunology

Background:

• Antibody-decorated nanostructures are crucial for bioimaging and therapeutics.
• Covalent antibody conjugation methods often impair antibody functionality.
• Bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs), typically waste, have potential but face limitations due to their amyloid-like nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer protein-based nanoparticles for stable, noncovalent antibody attachment.
• To create functional, non-amyloid inclusion bodies (IBs) for biomedical applications.
• To develop a versatile platform for antibody-directed cell targeting and immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Engineered α-helix-rich inclusion bodies (IBs) utilizing coiled-coil self-assembly.
• Created spherical, submicrometric, fluorescent, and biocompatible protein nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated high-affinity antibody capture and controlled decoration with multiple antibodies.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced functional, non-amyloid, fluorescent protein nanoparticles.
• Showcased the nanoparticles' capability for antibody-directed cell targeting.
• Constructed a bispecific antibody mimic for targeted T lymphocyte redirection to cancer cells.

Conclusions:

• Developed an easy, cost-effective strategy for producing traceable, multivalent protein nanostructures.
• Demonstrated the potential of these functional IBs as platforms for bioimaging and immunotherapy.
• Created a novel bispecific antibody mimic capable of simultaneously targeting two cell types.