Abstract: Herein disclosed is a mucoadhesive including a bacterial cellulose, and a bioadhesive incorporated to the bacterial cellulose, wherein the bioadhesive comprises a polymer or a dendrimer, wherein the polymer and the dend rimer are grafted with a moiety which forms covalent interactions with a tissue surface in the presence of a stimulus. A method of forming the mucoadhesive is also disclosed. The method includes providing a bacterial cellulose, providing a bioadhesive comprising a polymer or a dendrimer, wherein the polymer and the dendrimer are grafted with a moiety which forms covalent interactions with a tissue surface in the presence of a stimulus, and incorporating the bioadhesive to the bacterial cellulose. In the preferred embodiment, the dendrimer grafted with the moiety is Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer grafted with 4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl] benzyl bromide (PAMAM-g-diazirine) and the stimulus is UV light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein nanocages comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the protein cages as well as methods for treating or diagnosing hyperpigmentation disorders or other melanocyte-related disorders using the protein nanocages or pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein nanocages comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the protein cages as well as methods for treating or diagnosing hyperpigmentation disorders or other melanocyte-related disorders using the protein nanocages or pharmaceutical compositions. In the preferred embodiment, the protein nanocage is composed of Bacillus stearothermophilus E2 protein of pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex (E2), with a skin penetrating and cell permeating SPACE moiety, and a melanocyte-targeting moiety of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a composition comprising a viral protein or fragment thereof, wherein the viral protein or fragment thereof is enclosed within a self-assembling protein nanocapsule, preferably ferritin, and wherein the viral protein, or fragment thereof is selected from a virus of the Togaviridae family. The viral protein or fragment thereof may also further be selected from a virus of the alphavirus subfamily.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein nanocages comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the protein cages as well as methods for treating or diagnosing hyperpigmentation disorders or other melanocyte-related disorders using the protein nanocages or pharmaceutical compositions. In the preferred embodiment, the protein nanocage is composed of Bacillus stearothermophilus E2 protein of pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex (E2), with a skin penetrating and cell permeating SPACE moiety, and a melanocyte-targeting moiety of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Pickering emulsion comprising an aqueous phase, an oil phase and a nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle is a protein cage. The protein cage is preferably a Bacillus stearothermophilus E2 protein of pyruvate hydrogenase multi-enzyme complex or an E2LC2 protein. Preferably the aqueous or oil phase of the Pickering emulsion comprises an agent, or the protein cage is coupled to or loaded with an agent, wherein the agent is a therapeutic, nutritional, nutraceutical or cosmetic agent. The invention further includes use of the Pickering emulsions disclosed herein in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or food applications, or as a controlled release delivery system, and use of protein cages as emulsifiers in Pickering emulsions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to encapsulate nanoparticles into a protein cage by inserting the nanoparticles into the core through holes. Currently commercially available nanoparticles can be functionalized using the inventive method. The inventive hybrids have applications in biosensing and bioimaging. The use of an affinity between poly-histidine chains and nitrilotriacetic acid as chelating reagent to obtain the inventive cages and hybrid assemblies by the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a composition comprising a viral protein or fragment thereof, wherein the viral protein or fragment thereof is enclosed within a self-assembling protein nanocapsule, preferably ferritin, and wherein the viral protein, or fragment thereof is selected from a virus of the Togaviridae family. The viral protein or fragment thereof may also further be selected from a virus of the alphavirus subfamily.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to encapsulate nanoparticles into a protein cage by inserting the nanoparticles into the core through holes. Currently commercially available nanoparticles can be functionalized using the inventive method. The inventive hybrids have applications in biosensing and bioimaging. The use of an affinity between poly-histidine chains and nitrilotriacetic acid as chelating reagent to obtain the inventive cages and hybrid assemblies by the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1.