| abstract |
The present invention provides non-naturally occurring high density lipoprotein-like peptide-phospholipid scaffold (“HPPS”) nanoparticles. More particularly, the present invention provides: (a) at least one phospholipid; (b) at least one unsaturated lipid, preferably an unsaturated sterol ester, more preferably an unsaturated cholesterol ester, more preferably cholesteryl oleate; And (c) comprising at least one peptide comprising an amino acid sequence capable of forming at least one amphiphilic α-helix; components a), b) and c) are associated to form a peptide-phospholipid nanoscaffold Forming a non-naturally occurring peptide-lipid nanoscaffold is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the cell surface receptor ligand is incorporated into HPPS. In one embodiment, the cell surface receptor ligand is covalently bound to the peptide scaffold of the HPPS nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the cell surface receptor ligand is coupled to a lipid anchor and displayed on the surface of the HPPS nanoparticle by incorporation of the lipid anchor into the phospholipid monolayer of the HPPS nanoparticle. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical formulations comprising HPPS nanoparticles and methods for making HPPS nanoparticles. |