Due to the specificity of their structure, protein systems are adapted to carry various types of ligands. The structure of many proteins potentially allows two kinds of immobilization of a therapeutic agent, either on the protein's outer surface or within the protein structure. Protein can, therefore, simultaneously play a dual role in delivering or releasing an active substance. The conducted research concerns the effectiveness of BSA as a potential carrier for doxorubicin (DOX). DOX is an anti-cancer antibiotic that contains glycosides, and the anthracene ring belongs to the anthracycline. The BSA structure defines two main activity centers, the so-called Sudlow I and II. It is known from the literature that it is potentially possible to successfully incorporate a ligand into both or one place depending on the type of ligand. The research was carried out on many levels, determining the system's number of physicochemical properties using complementary measurement techniques. Changes in protein secondary structure were monitored using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and compared to the crystallographic structure of the native molecule. Changes in the size, charge, and stability of the complex were determined, among other things, by measurements of dynamic light scattering (DLS), capillary electrophoresis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and NMR. The critical conditions for complex formation were determined, enabling both the optimization of the system and obtaining significant correlations between the degree of protonation of the drug and the effective localization of the active agent in the protein molecule structure. The kinetics of protein adsorption and desorption were monitored using complementary techniques such as quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) or surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which allowed for the determination of the association and dissociation constant for protein/drug complex formation. Additionally, molecular docking was implemented to evaluate the most likely binding site for DOX with BSA.

Albumin as a platform for designing biologically active carriers

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.