Nanoparticles for Use in Medical and Research Applications

Abstract

Disclosed are drug delivery systems and methods for extravascular administration of drug, vaccine, and/or diagnostic agents, for use in research and medical applications.

1 . A method of treating a disease or disorder, comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of non-viral nanoparticles, wherein said nanoparticles comprise a micelle core comprising a bioactive macromolecule and a surfactant with an HLB value of less than or equal to about 6.0, a shell adsorbed to the micelle core and comprising a ligand and lithium, and having a mean diameter of less than about 50 nanometers, wherein;
 (a) the bioactive macromolecule comprises an oligonucleotide, a protein, a peptide, a carbohydrate, or an antibody;   (b) the ligand comprises a protein, a peptide, a carbohydrate, an antibody, or a small molecule; and   (c) the nanoparticles are administered subcutaneously.   
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising non-viral nanoparticles comprising a micelle core comprising an antigen and a surfactant with an HLB value of less than or equal to about 6.0, a shell adsorbed to the micelle core and comprising a ligand, lithium, and an adjuvant, and having a mean diameter of less than about 50 nanometers, wherein;
 (a) the antigen is hydrophilic and comprises a DNA plasmid, a protein, or a peptide;   (b) the adjuvant comprises nickel; and   (c) the ligand comprises hyaluronan, wherein said hyaluronan ligand has an average molecular weight of less than about 50,000 Daltons and is non-covalently attached to the nanoparticles.   
     
     
         3 . A method of inducing an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition is topically administered. 
     
     
         4 . A composition for imaging a subject, said composition comprising non-viral nanoparticles comprising a micelle core comprising an imaging agent, wherein the imaging agent is dysprosium, and a surfactant with an HLB value of less than or equal to about 6.0, a shell adsorbed to the micelle core and comprising a ligand and lithium, and having a mean diameter of less than about 50 nanometers.