Stabilization of Therapeutic Agents to Facilitate Administration

Abstract

The present invention provides for a carrier complex for administration of therapeutic agents. In one aspect, an isolated C. botulinum carrier complex is provided, where the carrier complex lacks a native neurotoxin subunit.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A carrier complex derived from a native multi-subunit  botulinum  toxin complex comprising a neurotoxin subunit and non-toxin subunits, wherein the carrier complex is devoid of the neurotoxin subunit and comprising at least two non-toxin subunits, and wherein the carrier complex is capable of reversibly and controllably alternating between an open and a closed conformation. 
     
     
         2 . The carrier complex of  claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier complex of  claim 1 , further comprising a ligand. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier complex of  claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic agent and a ligand. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier complex of  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutic molecule is a pharmaceutically active or biologically active molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier complex of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-toxin subunit isolated from a second native multi-subunit  botulinum  complex, wherein the second native multi-subunit  botulinum  complex is of a different serotype. 
     
     
         7 . The complex of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxin subunits comprise a non-hemagglutinin subunit and a hemagglutinin subunit.