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A versatile pH-responsive platform for intracellular protein delivery using calcium phosphate nanoparticles.
Bingru Zeng1, Hongdong Shi, Yangzhong Liu
1CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, CAS High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China. liuyz@ustc.edu.cn.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a novel calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticle platform for efficient intracellular protein delivery. These biocompatible nanoparticles safely load and release functional proteins within cells, offering a versatile approach for therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Intracellular protein delivery is vital for biomedical applications.
- Developing safe and efficient delivery vectors remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel platform for efficient protein delivery using calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles.
- To demonstrate the capacity, stability, and functionality of CaP nanoparticles for protein delivery.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of well-dispersed, stable CaP nanoparticles (∼100 nm) with high protein loading capacity (up to 29%).
- Evaluation of nanoparticle stability under serum conditions and protein release kinetics in acidic endosomes/lysosomes.
- Assessment of protein folding and function post-release.
- Testing the platform with model proteins: Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), and KillerRed.
Main Results:
- CaP nanoparticles exhibit high stability in serum but rapidly release proteins in acidic intracellular compartments.
- Nanoparticle decomposition facilitates endo-lysosomal escape of released proteins.
- Proteins retain their native folding and function after release due to mild preparation conditions.
- Consistent loading properties observed across different model proteins (BSA, GFP, KillerRed).
Conclusions:
- The developed CaP nanoparticle platform offers a general and effective method for intracellular protein delivery.
- The biocompatibility and efficiency of this approach make it promising for therapeutic protein delivery applications.
