Antitumor Features of Vegetal Protein-Based Nanotherapeutics

• Main Authors: Silvia Voci (Author), Agnese Gagliardi (Author), Massimo Fresta (Author), Donato Cosco (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1999-4923; 10.3390/pharmaceutics12010065
• Keywords: antitumor compounds; gliadin; legumin; nanoparticles; soy protein isolate; zein; Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441
• Source: Pharmaceutics, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 65 (2020)

The introduction of nanotechnology into pharmaceutical application revolutionized the administration of antitumor drugs through the modulation of their accumulation in specific organs/body compartments, a decrease in their side-effects and their controlled release from innovative systems. The use of plant-derived proteins as innovative, safe and renewable raw materials to be used for the development of polymeric nanoparticles unlocked a new scenario in the drug delivery field. In particular, the reduced size of the colloidal systems combined with the peculiar properties of non-immunogenic polymers favored the characterization and evaluation of the pharmacological activity of the novel nanoformulations. The aim of this review is to describe the physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles composed of vegetal proteins used to retain and deliver anticancer drugs, together with the most important preparation methods and the pharmacological features of these potential nanomedicines.