Protein Based Nanostructures for Drug Delivery

Abstract

The key role of protein based nanostructures has recently revolutionized the nanomedicine era. Protein nanoparticles have turned out to be the major grounds for the transformation of different properties of many conventional materials by virtue of their size and greater surface area which instigates them to be more reactive to some other molecules. Protein nanoparticles have better biocompatibilities and biodegradability and also have the possibilities for surface modifications. These nanostructures can be synthesized by using protein like albumin, gelatin, whey protein, gliadin, legumin, elastin, zein, soy protein, and milk protein. The techniques for their fabrication include emulsification, desolvation, complex coacervation, and electrospray. The characterization parameters of protein nanoparticles comprise particle size, particle morphology, surface charge, drug loading, determination of drug entrapment, and particle structure and in vitro drug release. A plethora of protein nanoparticles applications via different routes of administration are explored and reported by eminent researchers which are highlighted in the present review along with the patents granted for protein nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers.

Nanotechnology-Based Biopolymeric Oral Delivery Platforms for Advanced Cancer Treatment

“…Protein-based biopolymers are of great interest because they are water soluble, this makes them excellent candidates for use in the formulation of ODPs for hydrophobic chemotherapeutics [7]. ODPs using protein-based biopolymers are also essential in cancer therapy as they can enhance drug retention time, drug absorption and can be modified to impart targeted delivery [8].…”

Antitumor Features of Vegetal Protein-Based Nanotherapeutics

“…Specifically, when a stable size of the colloidal systems is reached, an increase in the particle number is obtained [76]. During the preparation of protein nanocarriers, protein molecules are subjected to conformational modifications based on their concentration, composition, crosslinking, and chemical changes, which are due to the ionic strength, pH and type of solvent used [77]. The molecular weight of proteins as well as their isoelectric point (IP) are other key factors to evaluate because the first modulates the drug entrapment efficiency, its release profile and the targeting features, while the latter influences the stability of nanoparticles in different environments because the systems start to aggregate at pHs that are close to the IP.…”

“…The obtained droplets are extremely small, about 10 nm, and the charge, size and movement of these droplets can even be modulated by an electric signal [87]. This method is commonly used for the development of gliadin and elastin-based nanoparticles [77]. The high voltage provided by an emitter is applied to the protein formulation in order to obtain a liquid jet stream through a nozzle that helps form an aerosolized-size liquid.…”

Protein: a versatile biopolymer for the fabrication of smart materials for drug delivery

“…Protein-based materials can be easily manipulated and there are various possibilities for surface alteration and/or modification for covalent drug attachment. [4][5][6][7][8] This review aims to provide an overview of different proteins that are used for drug delivery, critically reviewing the recent developments in factors affecting the drug releasing capacity of bio-polymers.…”