{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:59:32Z","timestamp":1790315972488,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["CDD"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]]},"abstract":"\n Introduction\/Objective:<\/jats:title>\n Protein-based polymeric nanocarriers are increasingly being investigated\nas biodegradable, biocompatible systems for drug and gene delivery. This review critically\nexamines major protein-based polymeric nanocarriers and globular proteins, including casein, gelatin,\ngliadin, collagen, elastin, albumin, silk fibroin, lectins, legumin, ferritin, zein, virus-like particles,\nsilk-like polypeptides, elastin-like polypeptides, and silk-elastin-like protein polymers.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods:<\/jats:title>\n Relevant studies were identified from major scientific databases using search terms related\nto protein-based polymeric nanocarriers, drug delivery, protein nanoparticle, recombinant protein\npolymer, ferritin nanocages, and virus-like particles. Studies were considered if they discussed carrier\ndesign, formulation methods, physicochemical characterization, biological performance, clinical\ntranslation, patents, or recent developments in protein-based delivery systems.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n Protein-based polymeric nanocarriers can be classified into five main structural classes: protein\nnanoparticles, protein micelles, protein nanocages, recombinant protein polymer assemblies, and\nprotein-drug conjugate or fusion systems. Albumin-based nanoparticles remain the most clinically\nadvanced platform, whereas ferritin nanocages and virus-like particles provide structurally defined\nsystems for receptor-mediated targeting. Plant-derived proteins such as casein, zein, and gliadin form\npolymeric matrices relevant for oral delivery, whereas silk fibroin, collagen, gelatin, and recombinant\nprotein polymers self-assemble into structures that support sustained, local, and stimulus-responsive\ndelivery.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Discussion:<\/jats:title>\n Despite their potential, protein-based polymeric nanocarriers face several challenges,\nincluding protein corona formation, immunogenicity, storage instability, batch variability, scale-up\nlimitations, and regulatory uncertainty.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n Future development should prioritize reproducible manufacturing, safer surface modification,\nimproved stability, and rigorous evaluation of immune responses and translational feasibility.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2174\/0115672018496503260910072814","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:22:02Z","timestamp":1790313722000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Therapeutic Potential of Protein-Based Polymers as Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery"],"prefix":"10.2174","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Auwal Ibrahim","family":"Tanko","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8248-0188","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Md Rashedul","family":"Islam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muhammad","family":"Afzal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, P.O. Box 6231, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Misbahuddin","family":"Rafeeq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Dhofar University, Oman"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hussam Aly Sayed","family":"Murad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sami I.","family":"Alzarea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Aljouf, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rabeea Mustafa Ali","family":"Daoub","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hisham N.","family":"Altayb","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Muhammad Shahid","family":"Nadeem","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Imran","family":"Kazmi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"965","container-title":["Current Drug Delivery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.eurekaselect.com\/article\/download?doi=10.2174\/0115672018496503260910072814","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.eurekaselect.com\/258541\/article","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.eurekaselect.com\/article\/download?doi=10.2174\/0115672018496503260910072814","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:22:42Z","timestamp":1790313762000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.eurekaselect.com\/258541\/article"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]]},"references-count":0,"alternative-id":["LiveAll1"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2174\/0115672018496503260910072814","relation":{},"ISSN":["1567-2018"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1567-2018","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]]}}}