Protein-based nanomedicine platforms for drug delivery.

Protein-based nanomedicine platforms for drug delivery comprise naturally self-assembled protein subunits of the same protein or a combination of proteins making up a complete system. They are ideal for drug-delivery platforms due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability coupled with low toxicity. A variety of proteins have been used and characterized for drug-delivery systems, including the ferritin/apoferritin protein cage, plant-derived viral capsids, the small Heat shock protein (sHsp) cage, albumin, soy and whey protein, collagen, and gelatin. There are many different types and shapes that have been prepared to deliver drug molecules using protein-based platforms, including various protein cages, microspheres, nanoparticles, hydrogels, films, minirods, and minipellets. The protein cage is the most newly developed biomaterial for drug delivery and therapeutic applications. The uniform size, multifunctionality, and biodegradability push it to the frontier of drug delivery. In this Review, the recent strategic development of drug delivery is discussed with emphasis on polymer-based, especially protein-based, nanomedicine platforms for drug delivery. The advantages and disadvantages are also discussed for each type of protein-based drug-delivery system.