Ferritin-based drug delivery systems: Hybrid nanocarriers for vascular immunotargeting

Abstract

Ferritin subunits of heavy and light polypeptide chains self-assemble into a spherical nanocage that serves as a natural transport vehicle for metals but can include diverse cargoes. Ferritin nanoparticles are characterized by remarkable stability, small and uniform size. Chemical modifications and molecular re-engineering of ferritin yield a versatile platform of nanocarriers capable of delivering a broad range of therapeutic and imaging agents. Targeting moieties conjugated to the ferritin external surface provide multivalent anchoring of biological targets. Here, we highlight some of the current work on ferritin as well as examine potential strategies that could be used to functionalize ferritin via chemical and genetic means to enable its utility in vascular drug delivery.

Ferritin nanovehicle for targeted delivery of cytochrome C to cancer cells

“…Ferritin proteins have been taking center stage in recent years as smart nanocarriers for drug delivery due to their hollow cage-like structures and their unique 24-meric assembly 4–9 . Human H ferritins are naturally targeted toward TfR1 (or CD71) receptor highly expressed in iron avid, fast replicating, tumor cells 10 .…”

Application of Electrically Conducting Nanocomposite Material Polythiophene@NiO/Frt/GOx as Anode for Enzymatic Biofuel Cells

“…Frt is an active redox protein that is biocompatible and eco-friendly, and one of the foremost benefits of using ferritin is that it is working at a redox potential near GOx. Hence, the aforementioned attributes are favorable in the application of Frt as mediator [17,18].…”

Ferritin: A Platform for MRI Contrast Agents Delivery

“…However, the expression of TfR-1 and SCARA5 on both normal hepatocytes and other tissues can increase ferritin clearance through the bloodstream, thus reducing its accumulation at the target site. To increase targeted ferritin delivery, more selective ligands of cell surface markers, such as peptides and antibodies, have been conjugated to the external surface of ferritin [25]. In this contest, Khoshnejad M. et al have shown high pulmonary endothelial targeting in vivo, with no noticeable undesired effects, by functionalizing ferritin with antibodies specific for ICAM-1 [26].…”