Plant virus nanoparticles as targeting agents: New tools for cell biology.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

KELLEY, RICHARD LEE. Plant virus nanoparticles as targeting agents: New tools for cell biology. (Under the direction of Stefan Franzen)

In order to develop Red clover necrotic mosaic virus as a novel drug carrier to target specific cancer cells, the structure and viability of a prospective plant viral nanoparticle was studied. Initially, the assembly process of the virus was duplicated in vitro using transcript RNAs and capsid protein harvested from disassembled wild type virus. Using virus obtained by the preferred method of plant propagation, wild type virus was evaluated in vivo and gave no deleterious effects. The mice suffered no acute toxicity, no detected immune response and no evidence of biodistribution in any internal organs. With an understanding of preliminary toxicity, a formulation to target HeLa cells was produced to verify and expand on in vitro and in vivo testing results. The initial attempt at cell targeting visualization using a luciferin/luciferase luminescence indicator did not provide conclusive evidence of cellular uptake.