Targeting Cancer with Lactoferrin Nanoparticles: Recent Advances

Abstract

Lactoferrin, an iron storage protein, is known for its microbicidal activity and its ability to modulate the immune system, mediated through specific interactions with receptors on cell surfaces for internalization. These activities confer a significant versatility to lactoferrin, presenting it as a targeting ligand to disease-bearing cells. Early efforts in developing targeted delivery systems have focused on nano- and microcomposites comprised of metal and polymeric materials. These can be targeted through conjugation or adsorption of lactoferrin to achieve recognition to receptor-expressing cells. More recently, efforts are underway to utilize lactoferrin itself as a medium in loading the therapeutic agent. The functional efficiency of drug-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles has been evaluated in different disease conditions such as cancer, HIV, Parkinson’s disease, etc. This review will present the details of composition and performance of various delivery systems designed and developed using lactoferrin as targeting agent for the treatment of cancer.

Keywords::

• cancer
• drug delivery
• lactoferrin
• lactoferrin receptors
• nanoformulation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Funding was received from the DBT sponsored project BT/PR24076/MED/29/1210/2017. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing support was provided by Enago and was funded by the DBT sponsored project BT/PR24076/MED/29/1210/2017.

Acknowledgments

This manuscript is prepared during the Sabbatical leave of AK Kondapi. The author thanks the Universities Grants Commission, India and University of Hyderabad, India for the sanction of sabbatical leave. The author is highly thankful to R Akkina for providing opportunity to work in his laboratory at Colorado State University, Fort Collins during the sabbatical leave.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was received from the DBT sponsored project BT/PR24076/MED/29/1210/2017. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.