Virus-like particle conjugates for diagnosis and treatment of tumors
The present disclosure is directed to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and/or treatment of tumors, such as ocular tumors, using virus-like particles conjugated to photosensitive molecules.
1. A tumor-targeting virus-like particle comprising papilloma virus capsid proteins and 50 to 1000 photosensitive molecules conjugated to the capsid proteins, wherein the photosensitive molecules comprise (a) a photosensitive molecule that becomes toxic or produces a toxic molecule upon activation by light and (b) a photosensitive molecule that does not become toxic or produce a toxic molecule upon activation by light.
2. The virus-like particle of claim 1 , wherein the papilloma virus capsid proteins are non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins.
3. The virus-like particle of claim 2 , wherein the non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins comprise L1 capsid proteins.
4. The virus-like particle of claim 3 , wherein the non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins consist of L1 capsid proteins.
5. The virus-like particle of claim 1 , wherein the photosensitive molecules are covalently conjugated to the capsid proteins.
6. A method comprising delivering to a subject a tumor-tropic virus-like particle comprising papilloma virus capsid proteins and 50 to 1000 photosensitive molecules conjugated to the capsid proteins, wherein the photosensitive molecules comprise (a) a photosensitive molecule that becomes toxic or produces a toxic molecule upon activation by light and (b) a photosensitive molecule that does not become toxic or produce a toxic molecule upon activation by light.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the subject has a bladder tumor.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the papilloma virus capsid proteins are non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins comprise L1 capsid proteins.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-human papilloma virus capsid proteins consist of L1 capsid proteins.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the photosensitive molecules are covalently conjugated to the capsid proteins.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising activating the photosensitive molecule of (b) at a wavelength of light that permits visualization of the photosensitive molecule of (b).
13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising activating the photosensitive molecule of (a) at a wavelength of light that causes the photosensitive molecule of (a) to become toxic or produce a toxic molecule.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the virus-like particle is delivered by injection.