Protein based nanocarriers for drug delivery

GUSTAVO H.C.VARCA; GABRIELA GARRIDO PEROSSI; MARIANO GRASSELLI; MONICA BEATRIZ MATHOR; PATRICIA SANTOS LOPES; ADEMAR B.LUGÃO

Campos do Jordao

Encuentro; XII Encuentro de la Sociedad Brasilera de Pesquisas em Materiais; 2013

Sociedad Brasilera de Pesquisas em Materiais

Recent advances in nanotechnology have broadened the potential of drug carriers by means of advanced systems with improved functionality and biocompatibility, among others. Novel nanoscale systems have been described and therapeutic nanocarriers are now been approved for clinical use [1]. Specific targeting, toxicity and selective binding are major concerns regarding such systems. In this work we demonstrated novel protein-based drug carriers, developed by the use of radiation induced protein crosslinking [2, 3]. Albumin and Papain were diluted in phosphate buffer in presence of ethanol and submitted to ɣ-irradiation (10 kGy) on a gammacell. The particles acquired distinct size, ranging from 3.8-20.5 nm in case of albumin and 5-11nm in case of papain, as observed by Dynamic Light Scattering, as a result of the irradiation under specific microenvironment that induces a structural disposition of the protein molecules in the system. The effects of such modifications were also evaluated in terms of bioactivity for papain, and conformational changes for both proteins. The absence of new peaks in fluorescence and UV 4th derivate spectrum highlighted that protein structure was preserved after the process. Applications of such nanomaterials address their use as protein-based drug carrier, considering the biocompatibility of the system and affinity with specific binding sites by its nature.