Virus-Like Particles Displaying Recombinant Short-Chain Fragment Region and Interleukin 2 for Targeting Colon Cancer Tumors and Attracting Macrophages

Functionalized virus-like particles (VLPs) can target with specificity as drug delivery systems and can attract macrophages for the destruction of cancer cells. Here, the group antigen capsid protein from the Rous sarcoma virus was used to prepare VLPs, functionalized by displaying glycol-inositol phosphate-anchored recombinant single chain fragment variable (rscFv) and hemagglutinin transmembrane region anchored recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL2) (designated as VLP-rscFv-rhIL2s) in silkworms. The rscFv specifically binds the tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 that is expressed at the surface of colon cancer cells. VLP-rscFv-rhIL2 was affinity purified and had a smooth particle size with a diameter of 50 nm. Calcein-AM-packaged VLP-rscFv-rhIL2s successfully targeted cancer cells as a model for drug delivery system. VLP-rscFv-rhIL2 bound with colon cancer cells that attracted macrophages (human monocytic cell line-1 cells) in chemotaxis chamber assays compared with negative controls. The macrophages secreted tumor necrosis factor-α, a cytokine that is necessary to destroy cancer cells. These results demonstrate the potential of VLP-rscFv-rhIL2 as an intelligent nano biomaterial that is capable of attracting macrophages.