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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
Published on: September 6, 2012
Bioreducible Hydrophobin-Stabilized Supraparticles for Selective Intracellular Release.
Daniele Maiolo1, Claudia Pigliacelli1, Paola Sánchez Moreno1
1Interdepartmental Laboratory of Nanomedicine (NanoMedLab), Laboratory of Supramolecular and BioNano Materials (SupraBioNanoLab), and Fondazione Centro Europeo Nanomedicina (CEN), Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano , via L. Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milan, Italy.
Hydrophobin HFBII protein organizes gold nanoparticles into stable supraparticles for enhanced drug delivery. These bioreducible nanomedicines improve anticancer drug efficacy through targeted intracellular release.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Nanomedicine faces challenges with drug-carrier stability and targeted delivery.
- Hydrophobins are versatile proteins with film-forming capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable and efficient nanocarrier system using hydrophobin HFBII and gold nanoparticles.
- To investigate the controlled intracellular release of encapsulated drugs.
Main Methods:
- Organizing dodecanethiol-protected gold nanoparticles (NPs) into supraparticles (SPs) using hydrophobin HFBII.
- Encapsulating hydrophobic anticancer drugs within the SPs.
- Evaluating SP stability, drug release kinetics, and therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
Main Results:
- HFBII-organized gold NPs formed exceptionally stable supraparticles (SPs) with high drug encapsulation efficiency.
- SPs demonstrated remarkable in vivo stability and prevented premature drug release.
- Intracellular glutathione triggered selective SP disassembly, leading to targeted drug release.
- Encapsulated anticancer drug efficacy was significantly enhanced (2 orders of magnitude decrease in IC50).
- Biodistribution and pharmacokinetic studies confirmed SP stability and selective payload release in target tissues.
Conclusions:
- Bioreducible hydrophobin HFBII-based supraparticles offer a promising platform for stable nanomedicine formulation.
- This approach enhances therapeutic efficiency through controlled intracellular drug release.
- The developed nanomedicine system holds potential for advancing targeted cancer therapy.
