Protein nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for cancer therapy.
Nanoparticles have increasingly been used for a variety of applications, most notably for the delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. A large number of nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been developed for cancer treatment and various materials have been explored as drug delivery agents to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anticancer drugs. Natural biomolecules such as proteins are an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers which are commonly used in drug formulations because of their safety. In general, protein nanoparticles offer a number of advantages including biocompatibility and biodegradability. They can be prepared under mild conditions without the use of toxic chemicals or organic solvents. Moreover, due to their defined primary structure, protein-based nanoparticles offer various possibilities for surface modifications including covalent attachment of drugs and targeting ligands. In this paper, we review the most significant advancements in protein nanoparticle technology and their use in drug delivery arena. We then examine the various sources of protein materials that have been used successfully for the construction of protein nanoparticles as well as their methods of preparation. Finally, we discuss the applications of protein nanoparticles in cancer therapy.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Warangkana
W
Lohcharoenkal
Pathology and Physiology Research Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
Liying
L
Wang
Natural Science Division, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV 26416, USA.
Yi Charlie
YC
Chen
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA ; Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Yon
0000-0002-8839-6462
Y
Rojanasakul
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins