Drug encapsulation in protein nanoparticles

Abstract

Protein nanoparticles (NPs) show great promise for drug delivery due to being biocompatible, non-toxic, biodegradable and easy to manufacture, among other qualities. Their easiness of surface modification and covalent drug binding properties make them especially attractive compared to other drug delivery systems (DDS). In particular, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), a widely available plasma protein, is chosen for its high solubility, stability, and ability to bind and transport drugs. The present study focuses on validating the use of BSA NPs as heat-sensitive DDS to improve state-of-the-art cancer therapeutic strategies. BSA NPs were synthesized via an optimized variation of the desolvation method, and their short-term shelf stability and thermal stability were evaluated. Additionally, the encapsulation efficiency of BSA NPs was explored using Rhodamine B as a drug model, due to its fluorescent properties and aromatic interactions. Finally, the temperature-induced release of the resulting DDS was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy. The findings confirmed that BSA NPs are promising nanocarriers for DDS, showing reproducible results. However, it was found that heat-controlled release should be further improved due to spontaneous release of encapsulated drug under cold storage conditions. With continued research and optimization, these advances could revolutionize drug delivery and significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in patients.