Gold-Protein Composite Nanoparticles for Enhanced X-ray Interactions: A Potential Formulation for Triggered Release.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Radiochemistry

Background:

• Drug delivery vehicles modulate drug biodistribution to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity.
• Optimizing drug release requires balancing vehicle characteristics with encapsulation properties.
• Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems offer targeted release mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Zein protein as a basis for drug delivery vehicles.
• To evaluate the use of external beam radiation as an exogenous stimulus for triggered drug release.
• To develop and characterize hybrid Zein-gold nanoparticles (ZAuNPs) for radiation-modulated drug release.

Main Methods:

• Zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) and ZAuNPs were synthesized and characterized.
• Nanoparticles were exposed to various doses of kVp radiation (2–80 Gy single dose; 10x2 Gy fractionated dose).
• Alterations in protein structure and drug release rates of encapsulated Irinotecan were analyzed post-irradiation.

Main Results:

• Irradiation induced protein alterations in ZNPs and ZAuNPs.
• The presence of gold particles in ZAuNPs correlated with increased protein alterations and higher Irinotecan release rates.
• Radiation effectively modulated drug release from the Zein-based nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• External beam radiation can trigger drug release from Zein-based nanoparticles.
• Incorporating gold particles enhances radiation-induced drug release from Zein nanoparticles.
• This study demonstrates a proof-of-principle for radiation-triggered drug delivery systems using ZAuNPs.