Active Delivery of VLPs Promotes Anti-Tumor Activity in a Mouse Ovarian Tumor Model

Abstract

Virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs) have been used as an attractive means in cancer immunotherapy because of their unique intrinsic immunostimulatory properties. However, for treating metastatic tumors in the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian cancer, multiple injections of therapy are needed due to the large peritoneal space and fast excretion of therapy. Here, it is reported on the development of active VLP delivery vehicles for the treatment of peritoneal ovarian tumors using biocompatible Qβ VLPs-loaded Mg-based micromotors. The autonomous propulsion of such Qβ VLPs-loaded Mg-micromotors in the peritoneal fluid enables active delivery of intact immunostimulatory Qβ VLPs to the peritoneal space of ovarian tumor bearing mice, greatly enhancing the local distribution and retention of Qβ VLPs. Such improved distribution and longer retention time of Qβ in the peritoneal cavity leads to enhanced immunostimulation and therefore increased survival rate of tumor-bearing mice compared to a passive Qβ treatment. For clinical translation, the active delivery of VLPs holds great promise for tumor immunotherapy toward the treatment of different types of primary and metastatic tumors in the peritoneal cavity.

Keywords: active delivery; immunotherapy; micromotors; ovarian tumors; virus-like particles.