“International Collaboration Results in Promising Drug Delivery System”
Durham University (UK) and Jagiellonian University (Poland) have joined forces to create a groundbreaking artificial protein cage that shows potential as an advanced drug delivery system. This collaboration between The Centre for Programmable Matter and the Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology has produced a highly adaptable protein cage, based on a ring-shaped scaffold made of TRAP proteins.
The nano-scale structures feature metal-binding sites that allow for self-assembly into highly organized and stable structures upon exposure to cobalt or zinc ions. The hollow core of these cages has the potential to carry therapeutic cargo, making them a promising option for drug delivery.
What sets these protein cages apart is their ability to open and release their cargo in specific disease conditions, such as changes in pH found in certain cancers. This targeted approach could greatly improve the effectiveness of drug delivery and reduce potential side effects.
Commenting on the project, Professor Jonathan Heddle of Durham University explains, “To have a highly stable nano-sized transport container that only opens up to release a toxic cargo when it reaches a diseased cell is a big challenge, and we think this work takes us a little closer to that goal.”
The researchers believe that these protein cages have the potential to serve as a versatile platform for advanced biomedical applications. Their findings have been published in Macromolecular Rapid Communications and can be accessed through the following link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/MARC.202400712.
For more information on this innovative drug delivery system, please visit https://pressat.co.uk/.
