https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.140440

A team around WANG Junfeng has developed a “nano torpedo” to deliver doxorubicin (Dox) molecules encapsulated by a self-assembled nanocage of six BSA subunits to cells for tumor therapy, reducing toxic side effect.Present drug delivery systems, inorganic nanocarriers and protein system still have limitations, typically the biological toxicity of inorganic nanoparticles and the low drug loading efficiency of protein carriers. Therefore, combining the superiority of inorganic nanoparticles and protein carriers was considered a feasible strategy to optimize the drug delivery system.

In their study, the researchers designed a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-magnetite nanotorpedo. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed the superiority of this nanotorpedo in biosafety, stability, intracellular transport and tumor inhibition. The complex structure of the nanotorpedo was solved by transmission electron microscope (TEM), molecular dynamics simulation and computational modeling.

Graph: Schematic illustration of the nanotorpedo constructed through in situ biomineralization in BSA nanocage for Dox delivery and tumor treatment. (Image by MA Kun)