Challenges in Exploiting Human H Ferritin Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Navigating Physiological Constraints.

Over the past two decades, ferritin has emerged as a promising nanoparticle for drug delivery, catalyzing the development of numerous prototypes capable of encapsulating a wide array of therapeutic agents. These ferritin-based nanoparticles exhibit selectivity for various molecular targets and are distinguished by their potential biocompatibility, unique symmetrical structure, and highly controlled size. The hollow interior of ferritin nanoparticles allows for efficient encapsulation of diverse therapeutic agents, enhancing their delivery and effectiveness.

Thermo- and Photoresponsive Smart Nanomaterial Based on Poly(diethyl vinyl phosphonate)-Capped Gold Nanoparticles.

A new nanodevice based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with poly(diethylvinylphosphonate) (PDEVP) has been synthesized, showing interesting photophysical and thermoresponsive properties. The synthesis involves a properly designed Yttriocene catalyst coordinating the vinyl-lutidine (VL) initiator active in diethyl vinyl phosphonate polymerization. The unsaturated PDEVP chain ending was thioacetylated, deacetylated, and reacted with tetrachloroauric acid and sodium borohydride to form PDEVP-VL-capped AuNPs.

HSV-1 infection induces phosphorylated tau propagation among neurons via extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EV), key players in cell-to-cell communication, may contribute to disease propagation in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), by favoring the dissemination of neurotoxic proteins within the brain. Interestingly, growing evidence supports the role of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we investigated whether HSV-1 infection could promote the spread of phosphorylated tau (ptau) among neurons via EV.

Ferritin-based disruptor nanoparticles: A novel strategy to enhance LDL cholesterol clearance via multivalent inhibition of PCSK9-LDL receptor interaction.

Hypercholesterolemia, characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a crucial role in cholesterol metabolism by regulating LDL receptor degradation, making it a therapeutic target for mitigating hypercholesterolemia-associated risks. In this context, we aimed to engineer human H ferritin as a scaffold to present 24 copies of a PCSK9-targeting domain.