IP Library Granted Patent US 12702703
Granted Patent B2
US 12702703 · App. 17/889,715 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Edible plant exosome-like nanovectors for vaccination

Inventor: Huang-Ge Zhang (Louisville, KY)
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
A61K39/0012A61K9/0056A61K9/1277A61K31/05A61K31/12A61K31/203A61K31/337A61K31/353A61K31/475A61K31/513A61K31/704A61K33/243A61K38/12A61K39/0011A61K39/001102A61K39/39A61P35/00A61P35/04C12N15/1135A61K2039/55A61K2039/6018A61K2039/812C12N2310/14C12N2310/141C12N2310/531
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702703
App. No.
17/889,715
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are compositions and methods for using the same. In some embodiments, the compositions include an EPELN encapsulating and/or having associated therewith an active agent and a plasma membrane derived from a tumor and/or cancer cell coating the EPELN. In some embodiments, the active agent is a therapeutic agent or an immune response modifier, and in some embodiments the plasma membrane has one or more tumor-associated and/or cancer-associated antigens. Also provided are methods for using the compositions for treating tumors and/or cancers, inducing anti-tumor and/or anti-cancer immune responses, activating antigen-presenting cells, targeting CD11c dendritic cells, and preventing or reducing metastasis.

Claims (29)

1 . A composition comprising:

an edible-plant derived exosome-like nanoparticle (EPELN) comprising a lipid bilayer encapsulating and/or having associated therewith an immune response modifier; wherein the immune response modifier comprises an miRNA selected from the group consisting of miR18a (5′-UAAGGUGCAUCUAGUGCAGAUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 1) and miR17 (5′-CAAAGUGCUUACAGUGCAGGUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 2); and

a plasma membrane; wherein the plasma membrane is derived from a tumor and/or cancer cell and wherein the plasma membrane consists of one or more tumor-associated antigens and/or cancer associated antigens.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the edible plant is a mushroom.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the (EPELN) further encapsulates and/or has associated therewith a therapeutic agent.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from a phytochemical agent, an immune response inducing and/or enhancing agent, and a chemotherapeutic agent.

5 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a phytochemical agent, optionally wherein the phytochemical agent is selected from curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, equal, fisetin, and quercetin.

6 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent, optionally wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of retinoic acid, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, actinomycin D, adriamycin, cisplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, and taxol.

7 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of an siRNA, a microRNA, and a mammalian expression vector.

8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle, carrier, and/or excipient and the composition of claim 1 , optionally wherein the pharmaceutical composition is pharmaceutically acceptable for use in a human.

9 . A method for treating a tumor and/or a cancer, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition, the composition comprising:

(i) an edible-plant derived exosome-like nanoparticle (EPELN) comprising a lipid bilayer encapsulating and/or having associated therewith an immune response modifier; wherein the immune modifier comprises an miRNA selected from the group consisting of miR18a (5′-UAAGGUGCAUCUAGUGCAGAUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 1) and miR17 (5′-CAAAGUGCUUACAGUGCAGGUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 2); and

(ii) a plasma membrane derived from a tumor and/or cancer cell coating the EPELN; and wherein the plasma membrane consists of one or more tumor-associated antigens and/or cancer associated antigens.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the tumor cell and/or cancer cell is autologous to the subject.

11 . A method for inducing an anti-tumor and/or an anti-cancer immune response in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , whereby an anti-tumor and/or anti-cancer immune response is induced in the subject to at least one tumor-associated and/or cancer-associated antigen present in the composition.

12 . A method for activating antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , whereby APCs present in the subject are activated against at least one tumor-associated and/or cancer associated antigen present in the subject.

13 . A method for targeting a CD11c dendritic cell present in or isolated from a subject, the method comprising contacting the CD11c dendritic cell with a composition of claim 1 .

14 . A method for inhibiting or reducing metastasis of a cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition of claim 1 .

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition is administered orally or intravenously.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein administering the composition induces an immune response in the subject to at least one tumor-associated and/or cancer-associated antigen present in the composition.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the EPELN is derived from a mushroom.

18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the immune response modifier comprises miR 18a (5′UAAGGUGCAUCUAGUGCAGAUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 1).

19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the (EPELN) further encapsulates and/or has associated therewith a therapeutic agent.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from a phytochemical agent and a chemotherapeutic agent, optionally wherein the therapeutic agent comprises:

(i) a phytochemical agent selected from curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, equal, fisetin, and quercetin; or

(ii) a chemotherapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of retinoic acid, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, actinomycin D, adriamycin, cisplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, and taxol: or

(iii) a nucleic acid molecule selected from an siRNA a microRNA and a mammalian expression vector.

21 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the wherein the immune response modifier comprises miR17 (5′-CAAAGUGCUUACAGUGCAGGUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 2).

22 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the wherein the immune response modifier comprises miR17 (5′-CAAAGUGCUUACAGUGCAGGUAG-3′; SEQ ID NO: 2).