Virus-like Particles

A Virus-Like Particle (VLP) is a biological nanoparticle which consists of the protective protein shell of a virus. VLPs are a specific class of viral subunit vaccines that mimics the overall structure of virus particles without the infectious genetic material. VLPs don't contain the viral genetic material and so are non-infectious and safe to use as they cannot replicate.

VLPs are highly immunogenic due to high density display of epitopes, the capacity to present multiple proteins to the immune system and their size (typically around 40 nm, influenza VLP however 80–120 nm) which seems to be the optimal for uptake by dendritic cells. VLPs are particularly beneficial for immunizing against antigens that are present in low abundance or have weak immunogenicity. Additionally, they enable the soluble expression of multi-transmembrane proteins in their natural configuration.

Advantages of VLPs

• Mammalian cell expression system expression, closer to the real structure and conformation
• Strong immunogenicity
• Biotinylation can be introduced at specific sites
• Proven biological activity
• Design different VLP frameworks for different antigens

Expression of VLPs

VLPs are derived from the outer capsid protein of a virus and are tiny nanoparticles formed by the automatic assembly of one or more capsid proteins. VLPs do not contain viral infectious genomes, so they are relatively safe during production operations. antibodies-online offers a series of biotinylated, non-biotinylated, and fluorescently-labeled VLP-displayed antigens. They are suitable for SPR, ELISA, CAR-T positive rate detection, and other experimental scenarios to flexibly meet customer needs. Discover our portfolio down below or get in touch for custom VLP solutions.

Therapeutic Agents and Vaccines

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a promising option for delivering genes or other therapeutic agents. In vitro studies have demonstrated their effectiveness in selectively targeting cancer cells. Researchers believe that VLPs may accumulate in tumor sites due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect, making them a valuable tool for drug delivery and tumor imaging.

Moreover, VLPs can serve as effective vaccines. These particles display viral surface proteins with high-density repetitive patterns that present conformational viral epitopes, inducing robust T cell and B cell immune responses. VLPs have a small radius that allows for sufficient drainage into lymph nodes. As they are unable to replicate, they offer a safer alternative to attenuated viruses.