Protein cage architectures such as virus capsids and ferritins are versatile nanoscale platforms amenable to both genetic and chemical modification. Incorporation of multiple functionalities within these nanometer-sized protein architectures demonstrate their potential to serve as functional nanomaterials with applications in medical imaging and therapy. In the present study, we synthesized an iron oxide (magnetite) nanoparticle within the interior cavity of a genetically engineered human H-chain ferritin (HFn). A cell-specific targeting peptide, RGD-4C which binds alphavbeta3 integrins upregulated on tumor vasculature, was genetically incorporated on the exterior surface of HFn. Both magnetite-containing and fluorescently labeled RGD4C-Fn cages bound C32 melanoma cells in vitro. Together these results demonstrate the capability of a genetically modified protein cage architecture to serve as a multifunctional nanoscale container for simultaneous iron oxide loading and cell-specific targeting.

The antitumor agent doxorubicin was covalently bound and selectively released in a pH dependent manner from the interior surface of a genetically modified small heat shock protein (Hsp) cage.