title: Mussel-Inspired Protein Nanoparticles Containing Iron(III)-DOPA Complexes for pH-Responsive Drug Delivery.
abstract: A novel bioinspired strategy for protein nanoparticle (NP) synthesis to achieve pH-responsive drug release exploits the pH-dependent changes in the coordination stoichiometry of iron(III)-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) complexes, which play a major cross-linking role in mussel byssal threads. Doxorubicin-loaded polymeric NPs that are based on Fe(III)-DOPA complexation were thus synthesized with a DOPA-modified recombinant mussel adhesive protein through a co-electrospraying process. The release of doxorubicin was found to be predominantly governed by a change in the structure of the Fe(III)-DOPA complexes induced by an acidic pH value. It was also demonstrated that the fabricated NPs exhibited effective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells through efficient cellular uptake and cytosolic release. Therefore, it is anticipated that Fe(III)-DOPA complexation can be successfully utilized as a new design principle for pH-responsive NPs for diverse controlled drug-delivery applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784 (Korea).
authors.forename: Bum Jin
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784 (Korea).
authors.forename: Hogyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784 (Korea).|Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 406-772 (Korea).
authors.forename: Byeong Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 790-784 (Korea). hjcha@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D011506:Proteins; C037403:adhesive protein, mussel; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: drug delivery; electrospray; iron complexes; nanoparticles; proteins