title: Ferritin nanocages: A biological platform for drug delivery, imaging and theranostics in cancer.
abstract: Nowadays cancer represents a prominent challenge in clinics. Main achievements in cancer management would be the development of highly accurate and specific diagnostic tools for early detection of cancer onset, and the generation of smart drug delivery systems for targeted chemotherapy release in cancer cells. In this context, protein-based nanocages hold a tremendous potential as devices for theranostics purposes. In particular, ferritin has emerged as an excellent and promising protein-based nanocage thanks to its unique architecture, surface properties and high biocompatibility. By exploiting natural recognition of the Transferrin Receptor 1, which is overexpressed on tumor cells, ferritin nanocages may ensure a proper drug delivery and release. Moreover, researchers have applied surface functionalities on ferritin cages for further providing active tumor targeting. Encapsulation strategies of non metal-containing drugs within ferritin cages have been explored and successfully performed with encouraging results. Various preclinical studies have demonstrated that nanoformulation within ferritin nanocages significantly improved targeted therapy and accurate imaging of cancer cells. Aims of this review are to describe structure and functions of ferritin nanocages, and to provide an overview about the nanotechnological approaches implemented for applying them to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truffi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiandra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy; Surgery Division, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monieri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy; Surgery Division, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, ⿿Luigi Sacco⿿ Hospital, Via G. B. Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: serena.mazzucchelli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005293:Ferritins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013499:Surface Properties; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins
keywords: Cancer; Drug delivery; Ferritin; Imaging; Protein-based nanocages