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Fan Z, Iqbal H, Ni J, Khan NU, Irshad S, Razzaq A, Alfaifi MY, Elbehairi SEI, Shati AA, Zhou J, Cheng H. Rationalized landscape on protein-based cancer nanomedicine: Recent progress and challenges. Int J Pharm X 2024; 7:100238. [PMID: 38511068 PMCID: PMC10951516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2024.100238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical advancement of protein-based nanomedicine has revolutionized medical professionals' perspectives on cancer therapy. Protein-based nanoparticles have been exploited as attractive vehicles for cancer nanomedicine due to their unique properties derived from naturally biomacromolecules with superior biocompatibility and pharmaceutical features. Furthermore, the successful translation of Abraxane™ (paclitaxel-based albumin nanoparticles) into clinical application opened a new avenue for protein-based cancer nanomedicine. In this mini-review article, we demonstrate the rational design and recent progress of protein-based nanoparticles along with their applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy from recent literature. The current challenges and hurdles that hinder clinical application of protein-based nanoparticles are highlighted. Finally, future perspectives for translating protein-based nanoparticles into clinic are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhechen Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Haroon Iqbal
- Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiang Ni
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China
| | - Naveed Ullah Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Shahla Irshad
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 10250, Pakistan
| | - Anam Razzaq
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mohammad Y. Alfaifi
- King Khalid University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ali A. Shati
- King Khalid University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jianping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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2
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van Strien J, Makurat M, Zeng Y, Olsthoorn R, Schneider GF, Slütter B, MacKay JA, Jiskoot W, Kros A. Noncovalent Conjugation of OVA323 to ELP Micelles Increases Immune Response. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1027-1037. [PMID: 38166400 PMCID: PMC10865353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Subunit vaccines would benefit from a safe particle-based adjuvant. Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)-based micelles are interesting candidate adjuvants due to their well-defined size and easy modification with protein-based cargo. Coiled coils can facilitate noncovalent modifications, while potentially enhancing antigen delivery through interaction with cell membranes. ELP micelles comprise ELP diblock copolymers that self-assemble above a critical micelle temperature. In this study, an amphiphilic ELP was conjugated to peptide "K", which forms a heterodimeric coiled-coil complex with peptide "E". Self-assembled "covalent" micelles containing ELP-OVA323 (i.e., model antigen OVA323 conjugated to ELP), "coiled-coil" micelles containing ELP-K/E-OVA323 and "hybrid" micelles containing ELP-K and ELP-OVA323 were shown to be monodisperse and spherical. Dendritic cells (DCs) were exposed to all micelle compositions, and T-cell proliferation was investigated. The presence of ELP-K enhanced micelle uptake and subsequent DC maturation, resulting in enhanced CD4+ T-cell proliferation, which makes ELPs with coiled coil-associated antigens a promising vaccine platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolinde van Strien
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Max Makurat
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ye Zeng
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - René Olsthoorn
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gregory F. Schneider
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Slütter
- Department
of BioTherapeutics, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J. Andrew MacKay
- Department
of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90089-9121, United States
| | - Wim Jiskoot
- Department
of BioTherapeutics, LACDR, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Kros
- Department
of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry, Leiden Institute of
Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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3
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Feng Z, Wang S, Huang W, Bai W. A potential bilayer skin substitute based on electrospun silk-elastin-like protein nanofiber membrane covered with bacterial cellulose. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2024; 234:113677. [PMID: 38043505 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Skin substitutes are designed to promote wound healing by replacing extracellular matrix. Silk-elastin-like protein is a renewable extracellular matrix-like material that integrated the advantages of silk and elastin-like protein. In this study, electrospun silk-elastin-like protein (SELP) nanofiber membrane covered with bacterial cellulose (BC) was created as a potential skin substitute to mimic gradient structure of epidermis and dermis of skin. The two layers were glued together using adhesive SELP containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) converted from tyrosine by tyrosinase. Skin topical drugs commonly used in clinical practice can penetrate through the SELP/BC barrier, and the rate of penetration is proportional to drug concentration. BC with dense fibrous structure can act as a barrier to preserve the inner SELP layer and prevent bacterial invasion, with a blocking permeation efficiency over 99% against four species of bacteria. Cell experiments demonstrated that the reticular fibers of SELP could provide an appropriate growth environment for skin cells proliferation and adhesion, which is considered to promote tissue repair and regeneration. The promising results support this strategy to fabricate a silk-elastin-like protein-based biomaterial for skin substitutes in the clinical treatment of full skin injuries and ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxuan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Sijia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Wenxin Huang
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Wenqin Bai
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin 300308, China.
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4
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Ding R, Zhang K, Guo H, Lin Y. Self-Assembled Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Bioactive Compounds. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2310838. [PMID: 38214694 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Although bioactive compounds (BCs) have many important functions, their applications are greatly limited due to their own defects. The development of nanocarriers (NCs) technology has gradually overcome the defects of BCs. NCs are equally important as BCs to some extent. Self-assembly (SA) methods to build NCs have many advantages than chemical methods, and SA has significant impact on the structure and function of NCs. However, the relationship among SA mechanism, structure, and function has not been given enough attention. Therefore, from the perspective of bottom-up building mechanism, the concept of SA-structure-function of NCs is emphasized to promote the development of SA-based NCs. First, the conditions and forces for occurring SA are introduced, and then the SA basis and molecular mechanism of protein, polysaccharide, and lipid are summarized. Then, varieties of the structures formed based on SA are introduced in detail. Finally, facing the defects of BCs and how to be well solved by NCs are also elaborated. This review attempts to describe the great significance of constructing artificial NCs to deliver BCs from the aspects of SA-structure-function, so as to promote the development of SA-based NCs and the wide application of BCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Rui Ding
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Huiyuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Yingying Lin
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100089, China
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe, 462300, China
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5
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Darji S, Aayush A, Estes KM, Strock JD, Thompson DH. Unravelling the Mechanism of Elastin-like Polypeptide-Enzyme Fusion Stabilization in Organic Solvents. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:272-281. [PMID: 38118170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) are a class of materials that are widely used as purification tags and in potential therapeutic applications. We have used the hydrophobic nature of ELP to extract them into organic solvents and precipitate them to obtain highly pure materials. Although many different types of ELP have been rapidly purified in this manner, the underlying mechanism for this process and its ability to retain functional proteins within organic phase-rich media has been unclear. A cleavable ELP-Intein construct fused with the enzyme chorismate mutase (ELP-I-Cm2) was used to better understand the organic solvent extraction process for ELP and the factors impacting the retention of enzyme activity. Our extraction studies indicated that a cell lysis step was essential to stabilize the ELP-I-Cm2 in the organic phase, prevent intein cleavage, and extract the fusion protein with high efficiency and retained activity. Circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopic characterization of ELP-I-Cm2 in organic solvents and aqueous solutions of the extracted and precipitated material indicated that the ELP secondary structure was retained in both environments. Atomic force microscopy and negative stain transmission electron microscopy imaging of ELP-I-Cm2 in organic solvents revealed highly regular circular features that were ∼50 nm in diameter, in contrast to larger (>100 nm) irregular features found in aqueous solutions. Since reverse micelles have often been used in catalytic processes, we evaluated the enzymatic activity of the ELP-I-Cm2 reversed micelles in different organic solvent mixtures and found that Cm2-mediated reactions in organic media were of comparable rate and efficiency to those in aqueous media. Based on these findings, we report an exciting new opportunity for ELP-enzyme fusion applications by exploiting their ability to form catalytically active reverse micelles in organic media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Darji
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Aayush Aayush
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Kiera M Estes
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jocie D Strock
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - David H Thompson
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Bhardwaj R, Mishra P. Multiresponsive Nanoscale Self-Assembly of Azurin-Elastin-like Polypeptide Fusion Protein for Enhanced Prostate Cancer Therapy. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:508-521. [PMID: 38047916 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
A fusion protein composed of a bacterial protein, azurin, having antineoplastic properties and a thermally responsive structural cationic elastin-like protein (ELP), is designed, cloned, expressed, and purified. A simple method of inverse transition cycle (ITC) is employed to purify the fusion protein azurin-ELP diblock copolymer (d-bc). The molecular weight of the azurin-ELP fusion protein is ∼32 kDa. Further, its self-assembly properties are investigated. Interestingly, the engineered azurin-ELP d-bc in response to increasing temperature shows a dual-step phase separation into biofunctional nanostructures. Around the physiological temperature, azurin-ELP d-bc forms stable coacervates, which is dependent on the concentration and time of incubation. These coacervates are formed below the lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of the ELP block at physiological temperature. Above LCST, i.e., 50-55°C, micelles of size ranging from 25 to 30 nm are formed. The cytotoxicity of azurin-ELP d-bc depends on the size of the coacervates formed and their cellular uptake at physiological temperature. Further, MTT assay of azurin-ELP d-bc in the cross-linked micelles prepared ex situ shows > six times higher killing of LNCaP cells than the unimeric form of azurin-ELP at 5 μM concentration. The flow cytometric results of these micelles at 20 μM concentration show ∼97% LNCaP cells in the apoptotic phase. Thus, azurin-ELP cross-linked micelles have enhanced potential for anticancer therapy due to their higher avidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Bhardwaj
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Prashant Mishra
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
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Attia SA, Truong AT, Phan A, Lee SJ, Abanmai M, Markanovic M, Avila H, Luo H, Ali A, Sreekumar PG, Kannan R, MacKay JA. αB-Crystallin Peptide Fused with Elastin-like Polypeptide: Intracellular Activity in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Challenged with Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1817. [PMID: 37891896 PMCID: PMC10604459 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration is among the main contributing factors of serious ocular pathologies that can lead to irreversible blindness. αB-crystallin (cry) is an abundant component of the visual pathway in the vitreous humor, which modulates protein and cellular homeostasis. Within this protein exists a 20 amino acid fragment (mini-cry) with both chaperone and antiapoptotic activity. This study fuses this mini-cry peptide to two temperature-sensitive elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) with the goal of prolonging its activity in the retina. METHODS The biophysical properties and chaperone activity of cry-ELPs were confirmed by mass spectrometry, cloud-point determination, and dynamic light scattering 'DLS'. For the first time, this work compares a simpler ELP architecture, cry-V96, with a previously reported ELP diblock copolymer, cry-SI. Their relative mechanisms of cellular uptake and antiapoptotic potential were tested using retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). Oxidative stress was induced with H2O2 and comparative internalization of both cry-ELPs was made using 2D and 3D culture models. We also explored the role of lysosomal membrane permeabilization by confocal microscopy. RESULTS The results indicated successful ELP fusion, cellular association with both 2D and 3D cultures, which were enhanced by oxidative stress. Both constructs suppressed apoptotic signaling (cleaved caspase-3); however, cry-V96 exhibited greater lysosomal escape. CONCLUSIONS ELP architecture is a critical factor to optimize delivery of therapeutic peptides, such as the anti-apoptotic mini-cry peptide; furthermore, the protection of mini-cry via ELPs is enhanced by lysosomal membrane permeabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Aly Attia
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Anh Tan Truong
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Alvin Phan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Shin-Jae Lee
- Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
| | - Manal Abanmai
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marinella Markanovic
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Hugo Avila
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Haozhong Luo
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Atham Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
| | | | - Ram Kannan
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, CA 91103, USA; (P.G.S.); (R.K.)
- Stein Eye Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - J. Andrew MacKay
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (S.A.A.); (A.T.T.); (A.P.); (M.A.); (M.M.); (H.A.); (H.L.); (A.A.)
- Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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Recent Progress in Proteins-Based Micelles as Drug Delivery Carriers. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15040836. [PMID: 36850121 PMCID: PMC9964340 DOI: 10.3390/polym15040836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins-derived polymeric micelles have gained attention and revolutionized the biomedical field. Proteins are considered a favorable choice for developing micelles because of their biocompatibility, harmlessness, greater blood circulation and solubilization of poorly soluble drugs. They exhibit great potential in drug delivery systems as capable of controlled loading, distribution and function of loaded agents to the targeted sites within the body. Protein micelles successfully cross biological barriers and can be incorporated into various formulation designs employed in biomedical applications. This review emphasizes the recent advances of protein-based polymeric micelles for drug delivery to targeted sites of various diseases. Most studied protein-based micelles such as soy, gelatin, casein and collagen are discussed in detail, and their applications are highlighted. Finally, the future perspectives and forthcoming challenges for protein-based polymeric micelles have been reviewed with anticipated further advances.
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