Systemically Injectable Enzyme-Loaded Polyion Complex Vesicles as In Vivo Nanoreactors Functioning in Tumors

The design and construction of nanoreactors are important for biomedical applications of enzymes, but lipid-and polymeric-vesicle-based nanoreactors have some practical limitations. We have succeeded in preparing enzyme-loaded polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) through a facile protein-loading method. The preservation of enzyme activity was confirmed even after cross-linking of the PICsomes. The crosslinked beta-galactosidase-loaded PICsomes (beta-gal@PICsomes) selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue of mice. Moreover, a model prodrug, HMDER-beta Gal, was successfully converted into a highly fluorescent product, HMDER, at the tumor site, even 4 days after administration of the beta-gal@PICsomes. Intravital confocal microscopy showed continuous production of HMDER and its distribution throughout the tumor tissues. Thus, enzyme-loaded PICsomes are useful for prodrug activation at the tumor site and could be a versatile platform for enzyme delivery in enzyme prodrug therapy.