Assessment of a Structurally Modified Alternanthera Mosaic Plant Virus as a Delivery System for Sarcoma Cells

The virions of plant viruses and their structurally modified particles (SP) represent valuable platforms for recombinant vaccine epitopes and antitumor agents. The possibility of modifying their surface with biological compounds makes them a tool for developing medical biotechnology applications. Here, we applied a new type of SP derived from virions and virus-like particles (VLP) of Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV) and well-studied SP from Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). We have tested the ability of SP from AltMV (AltMV SP_V) and TMV virions also as AltMV VLP to bind to and penetrate Ewing sarcoma cells. The adsorption properties of AltMV SP_V and TMV SP are greater than those of the SP from AltMV VLP. Compared to normal cells, AltMV SP_V adsorbed more effectively on patient-derived sarcoma cells, whereas TMV SP were more effective on the established sarcoma cells. The AltMV SP_V and TMV SP were captured by all sarcoma cell lines. In the established Ewing sarcoma cell line, the effectiveness of AltMV SP_V penetration was greater than that of TMV SP. The usage of structurally modified plant virus particles as a platform for drugs and delivery systems has significant potential in the development of anticancer agents.