Protein Drug Delivery System

Microelectronic circuits for communications. Controlled permeability films for drug delivery systems. Protein-specific sensors for the monitoring of biochemical processes. Catalysts for the production of fuels and chemicals. Optical coatings for window glass. Electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. Corrosion-resistant coatings for the protection of metals and ceramics. Surface active agents, or surfactants, for use in tertiary oil recovery and the production of polymers, paper, textiles, agricultural chemicals, and cement. 

As discussed earlier, noncollagenous proteins, particularly albumin and to a lesser extent gelatin, in the form of microspheres and nanoparticles continue to be exploited as drug delivery systems. Oppen-heim (71) and Speiser (72) reviewed the technology developed to produce ultrafine particles, often referred to as nanoparticles. 

The nanostructured molecular arrangements from DNA developed by Seeman may find applications as biological encapsulation and drug-delivery systems, as artificial multienzymes, or as scaffolds for the self-assembling nanoscale fabrication of technical elements. Moreover, DNA-protein conjugates may be anticipated as versatile building blocks in the fabrication of multifunctional supramolecular devices and also as highly functional-... 

Zalipsky, S., Seltzer, R., and Nho, K. (1991) Succinimidyl carbonates of polyethylene glycol Useful reactive polymers for preparation of protein conjugates. In Polymeric Drugs and Drug Delivery Systems (R.L. Dunn, and R.M. Ottenbrite, eds.), pp. 91-100. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. 

Some active materials are carriers for drugs (drug delivery systems), some have immobilized peptides to enable cell adhesion or migration, some are degradable by hydrolysis or by specific enzyme action. Some contain bioactive agents (e.g., heparin, thrombomodulin) to prevent coagulation or platelet activation while others incorporate bioactive groups to enhance osteo-conduction. Many include polyethylene oxide to retard protein adsorption and this is perhaps the closest we have come to a kind of inertness. 

Silicones are frequently used in transdermal drug delivery. Recently, the use of loosely cross-linked silicone elastomer blends for this application was surveyed.537 The mechanisms of controlled drug release in the silicone-based systems have been studied,538 as silicones are evaluated for relatively new protein drug-delivery systems.5... 

Katre, N.V., The conjunction of proteins with polyethylene glycol and other polymers altering properties to enhance their therapeutic potential. Advanced Drug Delivery Systems, 1993.10 91-114. 

The amount of investigational work on the subject of formulation also needs further review and amplification. Basic formulation studies have suggested that proteins could be used to form drug delivery systems (e.g., microparticles) the interactions of proteins with phospholipids is of sufficient interest to justify a short chapter. 

Many proteins and protein-like materials are precipitated from aqueous solution by the application of heat or the addition of electrolyte, and this general reaction can be used to prepare solid particles with various particle size ranges. Under the right conditions these particles can be made reproducibly and serve as drug delivery systems in their own right, being especially suitable for the delivery of other proteins or polypeptides. 

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