Melt processed viral nanoparticle constructs

1. A melt processed degradable viral nanoparticle construct for delivery of virus or virus-like particles to a site of interest, the nanoparticle construct comprising:

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 upon degradation of the polymer matrix, the virus or virus-like particles upon release from the degradable polymer matrix having the same or substantially similar structural and/or biochemical characteristics as the virus or virus-like particles prior to melt processing.

2. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , wherein the degradable polymer matrix comprises a melt processable degradable polymer material that is biocompatible and, upon degradation, produces substantially non-toxic products.

3. The nanoparticle construct of claim 2 , wherein the site of interest is a cell or tissue of a subject.

4. The nanoparticle construct of claim 2 , wherein the site of interest is a plant propagation material, a plant, part of a plant and/or plant organ.

5. The nanoparticle construct of claim 2 , wherein the melt processable degradable polymer material is a melt processable biodegradable polymer.

6. The nanoparticle construct of claim 3 , the virus or virus-like particles having a release profile from the degradable polymer matrix at least partially defined by the degradation of the degradable polymer material under physiological conditions.

7. The nanoparticle construct of claim 2 , wherein the melt processing of degradable polymer material and the virus or virus-like particles is at a Peclet number of about 5 to about 25, wherein the Peclet number is determined by the following equation:

P

⁢

e

=

6

⁢

πη

⁢

γ

.

⁢

R

3

k

b

⁢

T

where: η=viscosity of the polymer melt (Pa·s)

{dot over (γ)}=shear rate applied to the system (s −1 )

R=weight average radius of the particles before shear application (m)

k b =Boltzmann's constant (J·K −1 )

T=temperature of the system (K).

8. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , wherein the virus or virus-like particles are substantially uniformly dispersed in the degradable polymer matrix.

9. The nanoparticle construct 2 , wherein the degradable polymer material has melt temperature below the degradation temperature of the virus or virus-like particles.

10. The nanoparticle construct of claim 2 , wherein the degradable polymer material comprises poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) or a copolymer thereof.

11. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , further comprising at least one porogen.

12. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , wherein the virus or virus-like particle is a bacteriophage or plant virus or virus like-particle.

13. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , wherein the virus or virus-like particle is a plant picornavirus or a filamentous plant virus or virus-like particle.

14. The nanoparticle construct of claim 12 , wherein the plant virus or virus-like particle is a Qβ bacteriophage or virus-like particle, a cowpea mosaic virus-like particle or potato virus X virus-like particle.

15. The nanoparticle construct of claim 12 , wherein the plant virus particle or virus-like particle is a rod-shaped virus particle.

16. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , wherein the virus or virus-like particle is loaded with or bonded to a cargo molecule.

17. The nanoparticle construct of claim 16 , wherein the cargo molecule comprises at least one of a therapeutic agent, detectable moiety, or targeting agent.

18. The nanoparticle construct of claim 17 , the therapeutic agent comprising an anticancer agent.

19. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , providing in situ delivery of the virus or virus-like particles upon administration to a subject.

20. The nanoparticle construct of claim 1 , being provided in the shape of a plurality of microparticles or microneedles.