Nanostructures for protein drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Nanomedicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Nanoscale devices are increasingly used as carriers for drugs and imaging agents, with successful therapeutic applications.
• Recombinant DNA technology and molecular biology enable large-scale production of pharmaceutical proteins, leading to a rise in biotechnological drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review nanostructures for protein drug delivery.
• To highlight features, advantages, drawbacks, and recent developments of various nanocarriers for protein encapsulation.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on nanostructures for protein encapsulation.
• Discussion of specific nanocarrier types: nanoemulsions, liposomes, polymersomes, single-protein nanocapsules, and hydrogel nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Various nanostructures show promise for protein drug delivery.
• Key considerations for selecting nanocarriers include their specific features, advantages, and disadvantages.
• Nanoparticle stabilization is crucial for effective protein drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Nanostructures offer significant potential for delivering protein-based therapeutics.
• Further research is needed to address challenges and optimize nanostructures for protein drug delivery.