Protein-based nanoparticles for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery

Feyisayo Eweje; Michelle L Walsh; Kiran Ahmad; Vanessa Ibrahim; Assma Alrefai; Jiaxuan Chen; Elliot L Chaikof

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122464

Protein-based nanoparticles for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery

Biomaterials. 2024 Mar:305:122464. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122464. Epub 2024 Jan 2.

Authors

Feyisayo Eweje¹, Michelle L Walsh², Kiran Ahmad³, Vanessa Ibrahim³, Assma Alrefai³, Jiaxuan Chen⁴, Elliot L Chaikof⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Harvard and MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Boston, MA, USA, 02115; Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
² Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Harvard and MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Boston, MA, USA, 02115.
³ Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. Electronic address: jchen13@bidmc.harvard.edu.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. Electronic address: echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu.

PMID: 38181574
PMCID: PMC10872380 (available on 2025-03-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122464

Abstract

To realize the full potential of emerging nucleic acid therapies, there is a need for effective delivery agents to transport cargo to cells of interest. Protein materials exhibit several unique properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, ease of functionalization via recombinant and chemical modifications, among other features, which establish a promising basis for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery systems. In this review, we highlight progress made in the use of non-viral protein-based nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery in vitro and in vivo, while elaborating on key physicochemical properties that have enabled the use of these materials for nanoparticle formulation and drug delivery. To conclude, we comment on the prospects and unresolved challenges associated with the translation of protein-based nucleic acid delivery systems for therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Gene therapy; Nanoparticles; Polypeptides; Recombinant proteins.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Drug Delivery Systems
Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Nucleic Acids* / chemistry
Nucleic Acids* / therapeutic use
Proteins

Substances

Nucleic Acids
Proteins

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding