title: Engineered Polymer-Transferrin Conjugates as Self-Assembling Targeted Drug Delivery Systems.
abstract: Polymer-protein conjugates can be engineered to self-assemble into discrete and well-defined drug delivery systems, which combine the advantages of receptor targeting and controlled drug release. We designed specific conjugates of the iron-binding and transport protein, transferrin (Tf), to combine the advantages of this serum-stable protein as a targeting agent for cancer cells with self-assembling polymers to act as carriers of cytotoxic drugs. Tf variants were expressed with cysteine residues at sites spanning different regions of the protein surface, and the polymer conjugates grown from these variants were compared with polymer conjugates grown from nonselectively derivatized sites on native Tf. The resulting synthetic biopolymer hybrids were evaluated for self-assembly properties, size and topology, ability to carry an anticancer drug (paclitaxel), and cytotoxicity with and without a drug payload in a representative human colon cancer cell line. The results demonstrated that the engineered Tf variant polymer conjugates formed better-defined self-assembled nanoparticles than the nonselectively derivatized conjugates and showed greater efficacy in paclitaxel delivery. A polymer conjugate grown from a specific Tf variant, S415C was found to be taken up rapidly into cancer cells expressing the Tf-receptor, and, while tolerated well by cells in the absence of drugs, was as cytotoxic as free paclitaxel, when loaded with the drug. Importantly, the S415C conjugate polymer was not the most active variant in Tf-receptor binding, suggesting that the nanoscale self-assembly of the polymer-protein hybrid is also a key factor in delivery efficacy. The data overall suggest new design rules for polymer-biopolymer hybrids and therapeutic delivery systems, which include engineering specific residues for conjugation that mediate nanoscale assembly as well as control of ligand-receptor interactions to target specific cell types.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hiteshri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makwana
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mastrotto
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Johannes P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3640-5363
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.affiliation: Albumedix, Ltd. , 59 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 1FD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Darrell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sleep
authors.affiliation: Albumedix, Ltd. , 59 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 1FD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Albumedix, Ltd. , 59 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 1FD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8337-1875
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D014168:Transferrin; D017239:Paclitaxel