title: Bioengineered protein-based nanocage for drug delivery.
abstract: Nature, in its wonders, presents and assembles the most intricate and delicate protein structures and this remarkable phenomenon occurs in all kingdom and phyla of life. Of these proteins, cage-like multimeric proteins provide spatial control to biological processes and also compartmentalizes compounds that may be toxic or unstable and avoids their contact with the environment. Protein-based nanocages are of particular interest because of their potential applicability as drug delivery carriers and their perfect and complex symmetry and ideal physical properties, which have stimulated researchers to engineer, modify or mimic these qualities. This article reviews various existing types of protein-based nanocages that are used for therapeutic purposes, and outlines their drug-loading mechanisms and bioengineering strategies via genetic and chemical functionalization. Through a critical evaluation of recent advances in protein nanocage-based drug delivery in vitro and in vivo, an outlook for de novo and in silico nanocage design, and also protein-based nanocage preclinical and future clinical applications will be presented.
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Na Kyeong
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Hwarang-ro 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST School, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: iskim14@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: In-San
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057005:Bioengineering; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Bioengineering; Cancer therapy; Drug delivery; Functionalization; Protein-based nanocage