Engineered therapeutic proteins for sustained-release drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Protein Engineering

Background:

• Protein therapeutics are crucial for treating diseases like cancer and inflammation due to their specificity and low toxicity.
• Clinical use is limited by short half-life, immunogenicity, and poor permeation, reducing overall drug effectiveness.
• Structural modifications and controlled-release systems are vital for overcoming these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in structural modifications of protein therapeutics.
• To explore state-of-the-art long-term delivery systems for sustained protein drug release.
• To identify areas for future research to maximize the potential of protein therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Review of structural modification strategies: PEGylation, glycosylation, poly amino acid modification, and genetic engineering.
• Analysis of various controlled-release delivery systems: polymer-based (gels, implants, micro/nanoparticles), lipid-based (liposomes, SLNs, NLCs), and inorganic nanoparticles.
• Synthesis of current research on enhancing protein stability and functionality.

Main Results:

• Structural modifications can increase molecular size, prolonging stability and plasma half-life.
• Advanced delivery systems, including polymer, lipid, and inorganic nanoparticles, show promise for sustained and targeted protein release.
• Significant progress has been made in both protein modification and delivery system development.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing protein therapeutics requires a dual approach of structural modification and sophisticated delivery systems.
• Further research is needed to fully realize the therapeutic potential of protein drugs for human health.
• Controlled-release systems are essential for preserving protein stability and ensuring therapeutic efficacy.