Transferrin functionalized nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in biological systems

Abstract

Transferrin-mediated delivery of cargo using nanoparticles not only helps in targeted delivery but also increases the blood circulation time of a therapeutics cargo, thereby increasing the therapeutic efficiency. Liposomal, polymeric, inorganic, and organic nanomaterials have been used for therapeutic delivery. Various methods have been used for the conjugation of Transferrin to nanoparticles like EDC coupling, EDC-NHS coupling, post-insertion method, N,N-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide coupling method, azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, surface activation method, and glutaraldehyde cross-link method. Transferrin has been explored for drug delivery to the brain-in cases like brain cancer, cerebral malaria, and various types of cancer, for example, breast, liver, melanoma, and lung.