Multifunctional hydrophobin: toward functional coatings for drug nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Science
• Protein Engineering

Background:

• Efficient delivery of nanosized drug formulations remains a challenge in pharmaceutical nanotechnology.
• Particle size and surface properties are critical for drug bioavailability, stability, and targeting.
• Current methods require further design considerations for optimal drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for preparing functionalized nanoparticles from low-solubility drugs using hydrophobin (HFB) proteins.
• To enhance drug efficacy by modifying nanoparticle surface properties.
• To create a versatile platform for tailored drug delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Precipitation of a lipophilic drug (beclomethasone dipropionate) in water with HFB proteins.
• Particle size control by adjusting HFB concentration.
• Stability assessment in suspension and after freeze-drying.
• Surface characterization using genetically fused green fluorescent protein (GFP) to HFB.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles with sizes below 200 nm were achieved, with size influenced by HFB concentration.
• Particles demonstrated stability in suspension for at least 5 hours and long-term storage after freeze-drying.
• Labeling studies confirmed HFB coverage on the nanoparticle surface, enabling further modification via fusion proteins.

Conclusions:

• Hydrophobin proteins can be utilized to create functionalized, protein-coated nanoparticles for improved drug delivery.
• The HFB surface provides a template for attaching various functional groups through protein bioengineering.
• This approach combines protein technology with pharmaceutical methods to synthesize advanced drug delivery systems.