Albumin-Modified Cationic Nanocarriers To Potentially Create a New Platform for Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Cationic nanocarriers have emerged as promising nanoparticle systems for the effective delivery of nucleic acid and anticancer drugs to cancer cells. A positive charge is desirable for promoting cell internalization, whereas it also causes some adverse effects, such as toxicity and rapid clearance by mononuclear phagocytic systems. Herein, a new strategy of modifying cationic polymer micelles with albumin forming a protein corona to improve the surface physiochemical properties is reported. The corona with a monolayer or a multilayer was constructed depending on the albumin concentration, and the proteins would denature in different degrees due to the interaction with the surface of cationic micelles. It is demonstrated that multilayer albumin corona is beneficial to prevent macrophage uptake, increase accumulation in tumor tissues, and reduce toxic side effects to normal tissues. Our work provides a promising method to modify the cationic nanoplatform by optimizing the biosecurity and bioavailability for potential application in drug delivery.

Effect of Surface Charges on Oral Absorption of Intact Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

“…26,27 Moreover, surface charges affect the internalization of particles by the intestinal epithelial cells, with cationic surfaces favoring significant and fast internalization. 28,29 Nevertheless, there are controversies over the exact role the surface charges play in oral delivery, which is partially ascribed to a lack of understanding of the transport process of intact particles. Tracking translocation of particles in vivo is challengeable due to a lack of workable tools to visualize the particles in vivo accurately.…”

Synergic Antitumor Effect of Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy Mediated by Nano Drug Delivery Systems

“…Albumin is a versatile protein with a unique structure that can be conjugated to hydrophobic and hydrophilic components [231,232]. In 2017, Zhang and co-workers [233] prepared a DOX-loaded magnetofluorescent carbon quantum dots (FeN@CQDs) into polymer nanospheres (PEG) with magnetic and photoluminescent features using a lowcost and environmentally friendly one-pot hydrothermal method using iron crosslinked chitosan components (Ch-Fe-CL) [234].…”

Protein Corona-Enabled Systemic Delivery and Targeting of Nanoparticles

“…2), leading to reduced targeting effect (10) and off-target effects (2). At the systemic level, binding of opsonins (such as immunoglobulin, fibrinogen, and complement proteins) (11) increases nanoparticles' chances to be recognized by the Mononuclear Phagocytic System (MPS) (12) through receptor-mediated internalization (13), thus facilitates nanoparticles' faster clearance; whereas binding of dysopsonins (such as serum albumin and clusterin) may improve nanoparticle's stealth properties (14), which may also improve nanoparticle's safety profile. Thus, the lack of understanding and proper control of nanoparticle-protein interactions could lead to negative consequences such as reduced delivery capability, nanoparticles' shorter than expected half-life, and even toxicity.…”