ENGINEERED SPRAY-DRIED LIPID-BASED MICROPARTICLES FOR CELLULAR TARGETING

摘要

In accordance with the present invention there are provided novel Spray-Dried Lipid Microparticles (SDLM) that are comprised of lipid, a ligand and agent. The ligand is specific for a cell surface receptor, thereby enabling targeting of the agent to cells bearing receptors specific for the targeting ligand. In invention embodiments wherein the receptor internalizes upon ligand binding, there are provided compositions and methods for the introduction of agent into specifically targeted cells. In a particular embodiment, the ligand is specific for antigen presenting cells (APC) and the agent is a defined antigen. In this manner, immune responses can be induced against specific antigens, including those which are normally not very antigenic due to the fact that they re inefficiently internalized by APC.