Plant virus particles for delivery of photosensitive agents
Photodynamic virus particles including a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent are described. Methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the photodynamic virus particles and illuminating a cancer-bearing region of the subject to activate the photodynamic virus particles are also described.
1. A photodynamic virus particle, comprising a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent, wherein the photosensitizing agent is associated with the plant virus particle through a carboxyl dendron polymer.
2. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the plant virus particle is a filamentous plant virus particle.
3. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the plant virus particle is an icosahedral plant virus particle.
4. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 3 , wherein the plant virus particle is a cowpea mosaic virus particle.
5. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the plant virus particle is a rod-shaped plant virus particle.
6. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 5 , wherein the plant virus particle is a tobacco mosaic virus.
7. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizing agent is a porphyrin compound.
8. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 7 , wherein the photosensitizing agent zinc ethynyl porphyrin.
9. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizing agent is associated with the plant virus particle through electrostatic interaction.
10. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 9 , wherein the photosensitizing agent is associated to the interior of the virus particle.
11. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizing agent is covalently linked to the plant virus particle.
12. The photodynamic virus particle of claim 1 , wherein at least 20 photosensitizing agent molecules are associated with the plant virus particle.
13. A method of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of photodynamic virus particles comprising a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent, and illuminating a cancer-bearing region of the subject to activate the photodynamic virus particles, wherein the photosensitizing agent is associated with the plant virus particle through a carboxyl dendron polymer.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cancer is skin cancer.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cancer is melanoma.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the photodynamic virus particle is administered together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the photosensitizing agent is zinc ethynyl porphyrin.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising treatment of the subject with an additional type of anticancer therapy.