Virus-like nanoparticles as enzyme carriers for Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT)

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been used to treat a few of the many existing diseases which are orig-inated from the lack of, or low enzymatic activity. Exogenous enzymes are administered to contend with the enzymatic activity deficiency. Enzymatic nanoreactors based on the enzyme encapsulation inside of virus-like particles (VLPs) appear as an interesting alternative for ERT. VLPs are excellent delivery vehicles for thera-peutic enzymes as they are biodegradable, uniformly organized, and porous nanostructures that transport and could protect the biocatalyst from the external environment without much affecting the bioactivity. Conse-quently, significant efforts have been made in the production processes of virus-based enzymatic nanoreactors and their functionalization, which are critically reviewed. The use of virus-based enzymatic nanoreactors for the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases such as Gaucher, Fabry, and Pompe diseases, as well as potential ther-apies for galactosemia, and Hurler and Hunter syndromes are discussed.

Automated summary

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is used to treat diseases caused by enzyme deficiency. Encapsulation of enzymes inside virus-like particles (VLPs) as enzymatic nanoreactors provides a promising alternative for ERT. VLPs, as delivery vehicles, are biodegradable, organized, porous nanostructures that protect the biocatalyst and maintain its bioactivity. This article reviews the production processes and functionalization of virus-based enzymatic nanoreactors, and discusses their potential use in the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases and other genetic disorders.