Light-emitting conjugated polymer [poly(2-methoxy-5-propyloxy sulfonate phenylene vinylene), MPS-PPV] and the degradation marker DQ-ovalbumin (DQ-OVA) protein have been successfully loaded into capsids of the Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) to form T = 1 and T = 3 particles, respectively. The loaded virus-like particles were subsequently successfully internalized into RAW 264.7 macrophages, where DQ-OVA loaded T = 3 particles disintegrated due to the higher intracellular pH. Moreover, DQ-OVA CCMV T = 3 particles also internalized into HeLa cells and disintegrated in a similar way. Studies on elucidating the fate of T = 1 particles and the exact disintegration mechanism of T = 3 particles inside the cells are currently underway. To our knowledge, this is the first study on elucidating the fate of T = 1 and T = 3 particles based on CCMV viral capsids inside cells, which will provide basic knowledge for using CCMV for in vivo applications.

Cellular uptake of polymer and protein loaded virus-like particles

241st National Meeting (2011)

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