title: Nanostructures for protein drug delivery.
abstract: Use of nanoscale devices as carriers for drugs and imaging agents has been extensively investigated and successful examples can already be found in therapy. In parallel, recombinant DNA technology together with molecular biology has opened up numerous possibilities for the large-scale production of many proteins of pharmaceutical interest, reflecting in the exponentially growing number of drugs of biotechnological origin. When we consider protein drugs, however, there are specific criteria to take into account to select adequate nanostructured systems as drug carriers. In this review, we highlight the main features, advantages, drawbacks and recent developments of nanostructures for protein encapsulation, such as nanoemulsions, liposomes, polymersomes, single-protein nanocapsules and hydrogel nanoparticles. We also discuss the importance of nanoparticle stabilization, as well as future opportunities and challenges in nanostructures for protein drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: Juliana de Almeida
authors.initials: Jde A
authors.lastname: Pachioni-Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: André Moreni
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: Alexsandra Conceição
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Apolinário
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: Johanna Karina
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Valenzuela-Oses
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Souza Ribeiro
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura de Oliveira
authors.initials: Lde O
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.affiliation: Department of General Physics, Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Ramos Souza
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil. corangel@usp.br.
authors.forename: Carlota de Oliveira
authors.initials: Cde O
authors.lastname: Rangel-Yagui
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011506:Proteins