title: Functionalized protein nanocages as a platform of targeted therapy and immunodetection.
abstract: To improve the therapeutic/diagnostic potentials of drugs and/or imaging contrast agents, various targeted delivery systems are actively being developed. Especially protein nanocages, hollow and highly symmetrical nanometer-sized cage structures that are self-assembled from multiple protein subunits, are emerging as powerful targeted delivery tools. Their natural abundance, biocompatibility, low toxicity, well defined size and high symmetry are a few of the favorable characteristics which render protein nanocages as near ideal carriers for pharmaceuticals and/or imaging probes. This review aims to highlight current progress in the development and application of protein nanocages in targeted drug delivery approaches with an emphasis on the use of antibodies as targeting motifs to achieve high selectivity toward specific targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Amar B T
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ghisaidoobe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D021122:Protein Subunits; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: antibody; ferritin; immunodetection; immunoglobulins; protein nanocages; scFv; single-chain variable fragment; targeted drug delivery