Conventional drug delivery is systematically distributed through the body and can cause side effects. Thus, drug efficiency is reduced at the disease site. Targeting drug to the pathologic site is therefore crucial to avoid side effect and enhance drug activity on the affected organ. Targeting require specific carriers, such as nanoparticles. Among the variety of nanoparticles developed for drug delivery, protein cages stand out due to their well-defined monodisperse shape, hollow structures and their biocompatibility. Encapsulins are protein nanocages, that provide advantages such as their ease of production and both genetic and chemical modifications. Consequently, we aim to create a multivalent tool based on encapsulin nanocages with high surface functionalization potential. Thus, we investigated new genetically engineerable loops on the surface of <i>Thermotoga maritima</i> encapsulin (Tmenc). As most cases of encapsulin surface functionalizations are done chemically, only few genetically modified encapsulins locations were reported so far. We recently found new loops that can be engineered on the surface of Tmenc, therefore enhancing the multivalence potential of this cage.<br/><br/>Tmenc is a perfect candidate for specifically targeting as these particles are not internalized without a targeting peptide on its surface. We have identified two cell specific targeting systems that will be discussed in more detail in this contribution, that are, the blood brain barrier (BBB) and liver cells. Successful delivery employing functionalized encapsulin protein nanocages to these cell systems will exemplify its broad applicability.

Encapsulin: A drug carrier for passage through the blood brain barrier or against liver fibrosis

ACS Spring 2022

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