Nonimmunogenetic Viral Capsid Carrier with Cancer Targeting Activity

Abstract Although protein nanoparticles (PNPs) (e.g., viral capsids) capable of delivering a broad range of drug agents have shown distinctive advantages over synthetic nanomaterials, PNPs have an intrinsic drawback that hampers their clinical application, that is, potential immunogenicity. Here, a novel method for resolving the immunogenicity problem of PNPs, which is based on the genetic presentation of albumin‐binding peptides (ABPs) on the surface of PNP, is reported. ABPs are inserted into the surface of a viral capsid (hepatitis B virus capsid/HBVC) while preserving the native self‐assembly function of HBVC. The ABPs effectively gather human serum albumins around HBVC and significantly reduce both inflammatory response and immunoglobulin titer in live mice compared to ABP‐free HBVC. Furthermore, ABP‐conjugated HBVCs remain within tumors for a longer period than HBVCs conjugated to tumor cell receptor‐bindingpeptides, indicating that the ABPs are also capable of enhancing tumor‐targeting performance. Although applied to HBVC for proof of concept, this novel approach may provide a general platform for resolving immunogenicity and cancer‐targeting problems of PNPs, which enables the development of a variety of PNP‐based drug delivery carriers with high safety and efficacy.