Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: While adenovirus (Ad) therapies have been proven to be effective in local administration, systemic Ad treatments have shown limited success due to pre-existing antibodies in the human blood that neutralize the virus. We developed a liposome coating procedure...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abraham T. Phung, Jaimin R. Shah, Tao Dong, Omonigho Aisagbonhi, William C. Trogler, Andrew C. Kummel, Sarah L. Blair
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/6/769
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849425794606039040
author Abraham T. Phung
Jaimin R. Shah
Tao Dong
Omonigho Aisagbonhi
William C. Trogler
Andrew C. Kummel
Sarah L. Blair
author_facet Abraham T. Phung
Jaimin R. Shah
Tao Dong
Omonigho Aisagbonhi
William C. Trogler
Andrew C. Kummel
Sarah L. Blair
author_sort Abraham T. Phung
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: While adenovirus (Ad) therapies have been proven to be effective in local administration, systemic Ad treatments have shown limited success due to pre-existing antibodies in the human blood that neutralize the virus. We developed a liposome coating procedure that protects the Ad from pre-existing neutralizing antibodies in human blood. To assess the in vivo stability of the liposomes, the present study used a novel in vivo method to quantitatively assess the protective capabilities of liposome-encapsulated Ad (DfAd) from neutralizing antibodies. <b>Methods</b>: The assay systemically administers DfAd with a green fluorescent protein transgene (DfAd-GFP) into pre-immunized mice and allows it to circulate in the presence of neutralizing antibodies; the infected blood is extracted and used to transduce HEK293 cells, which emits fluorescence in the presence of protected, un-neutralized Ad. <b>Results</b>: The PEGylated liposome formulation provides 12× protection in vivo relative to unencapsulated Ads. In vitro optimization of the liposome coating reveals a strong correlation between the structural stability of liposomes and protection against anti-Ad neutralizing antibodies, where DSPE-PEG2000-carboxylic acid (DSPE-PEG2000-CA) is a critical component for liposome stability and increasing protection against antibody neutralization of the encapsulated Ad. <b>Conclusions</b>: The findings in the present study confirm that the DfAd liposome can protect against neutralizing antibodies in blood circulation. The novel in vivo assay for liposome protection against neutralizing antibodies and in vitro experiments in the present study provide new tools and insights toward designing liposome–Ad complexes for the systemic treatment of cancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-fb3352529eb842549e0aaeea8a16157a
institution Kabale University
issn 1999-4923
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj-art-fb3352529eb842549e0aaeea8a16157a2025-08-20T03:29:39ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-06-0117676910.3390/pharmaceutics17060769Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune ResponseAbraham T. Phung0Jaimin R. Shah1Tao Dong2Omonigho Aisagbonhi3William C. Trogler4Andrew C. Kummel5Sarah L. Blair6Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USAMoores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USAMoores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USAMoores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USAMoores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA<b>Background/Objectives</b>: While adenovirus (Ad) therapies have been proven to be effective in local administration, systemic Ad treatments have shown limited success due to pre-existing antibodies in the human blood that neutralize the virus. We developed a liposome coating procedure that protects the Ad from pre-existing neutralizing antibodies in human blood. To assess the in vivo stability of the liposomes, the present study used a novel in vivo method to quantitatively assess the protective capabilities of liposome-encapsulated Ad (DfAd) from neutralizing antibodies. <b>Methods</b>: The assay systemically administers DfAd with a green fluorescent protein transgene (DfAd-GFP) into pre-immunized mice and allows it to circulate in the presence of neutralizing antibodies; the infected blood is extracted and used to transduce HEK293 cells, which emits fluorescence in the presence of protected, un-neutralized Ad. <b>Results</b>: The PEGylated liposome formulation provides 12× protection in vivo relative to unencapsulated Ads. In vitro optimization of the liposome coating reveals a strong correlation between the structural stability of liposomes and protection against anti-Ad neutralizing antibodies, where DSPE-PEG2000-carboxylic acid (DSPE-PEG2000-CA) is a critical component for liposome stability and increasing protection against antibody neutralization of the encapsulated Ad. <b>Conclusions</b>: The findings in the present study confirm that the DfAd liposome can protect against neutralizing antibodies in blood circulation. The novel in vivo assay for liposome protection against neutralizing antibodies and in vitro experiments in the present study provide new tools and insights toward designing liposome–Ad complexes for the systemic treatment of cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/6/769liposomeadenovirusPEGneutralizing antibodiessystemic administration
spellingShingle Abraham T. Phung
Jaimin R. Shah
Tao Dong
Omonigho Aisagbonhi
William C. Trogler
Andrew C. Kummel
Sarah L. Blair
Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
Pharmaceutics
liposome
adenovirus
PEG
neutralizing antibodies
systemic administration
title Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
title_full Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
title_fullStr Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
title_full_unstemmed Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
title_short Adenoviruses Encapsulated in PEGylated DOTAP-Folate Liposomes Are Protected from the Pre-Existing Humoral Immune Response
title_sort adenoviruses encapsulated in pegylated dotap folate liposomes are protected from the pre existing humoral immune response
topic liposome
adenovirus
PEG
neutralizing antibodies
systemic administration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/6/769
work_keys_str_mv AT abrahamtphung adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT jaiminrshah adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT taodong adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT omonighoaisagbonhi adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT williamctrogler adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT andrewckummel adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse
AT sarahlblair adenovirusesencapsulatedinpegylateddotapfolateliposomesareprotectedfromthepreexistinghumoralimmuneresponse