Nanoparticles for the delivery of therapeutic antibodies: Dogma or promising strategy?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Over the past two decades, therapeutic antibodies have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of a wide array of diseases. However, the application of antibody-based therapy implies multiple administrations and a high cost of antibody production, resulting in costly therapy. Another disadvantage inherent to antibody-based therapy is the limited stability of antibodies and the low level of tissue penetration. The use of nanoparticles as delivery systems for antibodies allows for a reduction in antibody dosing and may represent a suitable alternative to increase antibody stability

Areas covered: We discuss different nanocarriers intended for the delivery of antibodies as well as the corresponding encapsulation methods. Recent developments in antibody nanoencapsulation, particularly the possible toxicity issues that may arise from entrapment of antibodies into nanocarriers, are also assessed. In addition, this review will discuss the alterations in antibody structure and bioactivity that occur with nanoencapsulation.

Expert opinion: Nanocarriers can protect antibodies from degradation, ensuring superior bioavailability. Encapsulation of therapeutic antibodies may offer some advantages, including potential targeting, reduced immunogenicity and controlled release. Furthermore, antibody nanoencapsulation may aid in the incorporation of the antibodies into the cells, if intracellular components (e.g. intracellular enzymes, oncogenic proteins, transcription factors) are to be targeted.

KEYWORDS:

• Antibody
• antibody delivery
• intracellular antibody
• controlled release
• nanoparticle
• toxicity

Article highlights

• Antibody nanoencapsulation offers a controlled release of therapeutic antibodies.

• Antibody structure may be changed due to nanoencapsulation process.

• The addition of stabilizers to formulation may avoid changes in antibody structure.

• In vitro studies have shown that nanoencapsulation do not affect the antibody activity.

• Current research lacks a study of toxicity for antibody-loaded nanoparticles.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

F Sousa gratefully acknowledges Jorge Jacinto by the contribution of image 5.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

F Sousa would like to thank to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for financial support (Grant SFRH/BD/112201/2015). PJ. Kennedy gratefully acknowledges the BiotechHealth Programme (Doctoral Programme on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Applied to Health Sciences) and FCT for financial support (SFRH/BD/99036/2013) and beyond. This work was also financed by FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação in the framework of the projects ‘Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences’ (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274) and UID/BIM/04293/2013. This work was also co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2 – O Novo Norte) in the framework of project SAESCTN-PIIC&DT/2011, under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).