Beta-casein nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for chemotherapeutic drugs: impact of drug structure and properties on co-assembly.

Purpose: To develop a novel oral drug delivery system comprising a hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drug entrapped within beta casein (β-CN), a major milk protein, which self-associates into micelles in aqueous solutions. The efficient gastric digestibility of β-CN suggests possible targeting to gastric cancers.

Methods: Antitumor drug entrapment was performed by stirring its dimethyl-sulfoxide solution into a phosphate-buffered saline containing β-CN.