Case Western Reserve University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dartmouth College

Nicole F Steinmetz

Amy M Wen

Michael Bruckman

Jonathan Pokorski

Steven N Fiering

Sourabh Shukla

Patrick H Lizotte

Lauren Randolph

Daniel Popkin

Stephen J Lippard

He Hu

Karin L Lee

Brylee David B Tiu

Frank Alexander Veliz

Parker Lee

Yaorong Zheng

Anna Czapar

Mark A Griswold

Susann Brady-Kalnay

Christian N Anderson

Chris Flask

Xin Yu

Sourabh Skukla

Yunmei Wang

Daniel Simon

Hema Masarapu

Chao Wang

Daniel Kernan

Steven Fiering

A method of treating cancer in a subject that includes administering in situ to the cancer of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a plant virus or plant virus-like particle in combination with administration of an immune checkpoint therapy to the subject.

Cancer immunotherapy using virus particles and immune checkpoint therapy

A construct includes a melt processed blend of a biodegradable polymer and viral nanoparticles. The viral nanoparticles are encapsulated within a biodegradable polymer matrix of the biodegradable polymer. The viral nanoparticles include a plurality of immunogenic peptides conjugated to the viral nanoparticles. The construct upon administration to a subject providing sustained release of the viral nanoparticles and conjugated immunogenic peptides from the matrix to the subject. The released viral nanoparticles and conjugated immunogenic peptides eliciting an immunogenic response in the subject.

Melt processed viral nanoparticle constructs

A pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) carrier comprising a PepMV particle that has been modified to carry an imaging agent or anticancer agent is described. The PepMV carrier can be used in a method of targeting cancer cells and tissue by administering it to a subject. Cancer tissue targeted by the PepMV carrier can be imaged using an imaging agent, or treated using an anticancer agent.

Targeting cancer cells and tissue using filamentous plant virus particles

Virus particle multimers and methods of making and using such virus particle multimer are described. Virus particle multimers are constructed by preparing a plurality of asymmetrically functionalized virus particles bearing one or more functional groups and contacting the asymmetrically functionalized virus particles with a first linker molecule that reacts with the functional groups to form a virus particle multimer that includes a plurality of asymmetrically functionalized virus particles connected by the linker molecule. The asymmetrically functionalized virus particles are typically prepared by attaching the virus particles to a support surface to allow asymmetrical functionalization to be introduced.

Viral nanoparticle multimers

A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes administering in situ to the cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a virus or virus-like particle.

Cancer immunotherapy using virus particles

An agent is described that includes a plant virus particle or VLP conjugate to TRAIL. Associating TRAIL with the plant virus particle or VLP serves to both target cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The agent can therefore be used for a method of treating cancer in a subject.

Anticancer trail-targeted plant virus particles

A method of non-covalently loading a plant picornavirus is described. The method includes contacting a plant picornavirus in solution with a molar excess of a cargo molecule to load the plant picornavirus with the cargo molecule, and then purifying the loaded plant picornavirus. Examples of cargo molecules include imaging agents, antitumor agents, and antiviral agents. Loaded plant picornaviruses prepared in this manner can be used to delivering cargo molecule to cells.

Non-covalent loading of plant picovirus particles

A nanoparticle for diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or theranostic applications includes a rod-shaped plant virus like particle (VLP), one or more gadolinium Tcontrast agents conjugated to an interior surface of the VLP, and a layer of polydopamine (PDA) coated over a portion of the exterior surface of the VLP.

Polydopamine decorated tobacco mosaic theranostic virus nanoparticles

A nanoparticle includes an icosahedral-shaped plant virus particle; an RNAi construct; and one or more endolysosomal release agents, wherein the RNAi construct is noncovalently loaded within the icosahedral-shaped plant virus particle.

Plant viral RNA delivery nanoparticles and uses thereof

A nanoparticle construct includes a plurality of plant virus or virus-like particles electrostatically coupled to a plurality of nanoparticles having a different surface charge than the plant virus or virus-like particles. The nanoparticle construct upon delivery to a subject can provide a sustained release of the plant virus or virus-like particles and/or nanoparticles to a cell or tissue of the subject.

Sustained release cowpea mosaic virus or virus-like particle therapeutic constructs for the treatment of cancer

A melt processed viral nanoparticle construct for delivery of virus or virus-like particles to a site of interest includes a degradable polymer matrix and a plurality of virus or virus-like particles encapsulated within the degradable polymer matrix. The nanoparticle construct upon administration to the site of interest providing a sustained release of the virus or virus-like particles and/or nanoparticles upon degradation of the polymer matrix.

An anti-cancer virus composition including an icosahedral-shaped plant virus or virus-like particle linked to a HER2 antigen is described. The anti-cancer virus composition can be used for methods of treating or decreasing the risk of developing a HER2-expressing cancer in a subject by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the anti-cancer virus composition.

Anti-cancer plant virus particles linked to HER2 antigens

A method of producing plant virus-like particles includes freeze drying an aqueous solution of plant virus particles to produce a substantially RNA-free plant virus-like particles.

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland, OH, United States of America

Nicole F Steinmetz