Volume 55, Issue 2 pp. 560-565
Communication

Systemically Injectable Enzyme-Loaded Polyion Complex Vesicles as In Vivo Nanoreactors Functioning in Tumors

Dr. Yasutaka Anraku

Dr. Yasutaka Anraku

Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113–8656 Japan

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Dr. Akihiro Kishimura

Corresponding Author

Dr. Akihiro Kishimura

Faculty of Engineering, Center for Molecular Systems (CMS), Kyushu University, 744, Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395 Japan

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Dr. Mako Kamiya

Dr. Mako Kamiya

Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan

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Dr. Sayaka Tanaka

Dr. Sayaka Tanaka

Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700–8530 Japan

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Dr. Takahiro Nomoto

Dr. Takahiro Nomoto

Polymer Chemistry Division, Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226–8503 Japan

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Dr. Kazuko Toh

Dr. Kazuko Toh

Division of Clinical Biotechnology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan

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Dr. Yu Matsumoto

Dr. Yu Matsumoto

Division of Clinical Biotechnology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan

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Shigeto Fukushima

Shigeto Fukushima

Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113–8656 Japan

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Daiki Sueyoshi

Daiki Sueyoshi

Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113–8656 Japan

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Prof. Mitsunobu R. Kano

Prof. Mitsunobu R. Kano

Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700–8530 Japan

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Prof. Yasuteru Urano

Prof. Yasuteru Urano

Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan

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Prof. Nobuhiro Nishiyama

Prof. Nobuhiro Nishiyama

Polymer Chemistry Division, Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226–8503 Japan

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Prof. Kazunori Kataoka

Corresponding Author

Prof. Kazunori Kataoka

Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113–8656 Japan

Division of Clinical Biotechnology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan

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First published: 02 December 2015
Citations: 161

Graphical Abstract

Fragile cargo: By vortex mixing, polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) were readily loaded with enzymes, which were then delivered to tumor tissue without loss of enzyme activity. Importantly for future therapeutic applications as well as tumor imaging, the enzyme-loaded PICsomes could be used to convert a model prodrug into a highly fluorescent product at the tumor site (see picture).

Abstract

The design and construction of nanoreactors are important for biomedical applications of enzymes, but lipid- and polymeric-vesicle-based nanoreactors have some practical limitations. We have succeeded in preparing enzyme-loaded polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) through a facile protein-loading method. The preservation of enzyme activity was confirmed even after cross-linking of the PICsomes. The cross-linked β-galactosidase-loaded PICsomes (β-gal@PICsomes) selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue of mice. Moreover, a model prodrug, HMDER-βGal, was successfully converted into a highly fluorescent product, HMDER, at the tumor site, even 4 days after administration of the β-gal@PICsomes. Intravital confocal microscopy showed continuous production of HMDER and its distribution throughout the tumor tissues. Thus, enzyme-loaded PICsomes are useful for prodrug activation at the tumor site and could be a versatile platform for enzyme delivery in enzyme prodrug therapy.

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