The membrane transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis has been exploited for developing novel targeted drug delivery systems, which could have a variety of applications in the site-specific delivery of anticancer dru...The membrane transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis has been exploited for developing novel targeted drug delivery systems, which could have a variety of applications in the site-specific delivery of anticancer drugs, proteins and therapeutic genes into proliferating malignant cells that overexpress the transferrin receptors. This is achieved by coupling transferrin or monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor with therapeutic drugs or drug delivery vesicles. The transferrin conjugates can be obtained by use of either bifunctional chemical linkers or by genetic infusion of therapeutic peptides/proteins into the structure of transferrin / and monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor. A variety of drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles and DNApolymer complexes （i.e. polyplex and lipoplex） were used to efficiently deliver the Wansferrin conjugates. Use of transferrin conjugates results in improvement in drug efficacy, selectivity and drug release as well as reduction in drug toxicity. This paper reviews the basic biochemistry of transferrin and the transferrin receptor as well as the strategy for developing targeted drug delivery system.展开更多
基金supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2004AA2Z3783)Beijing Municipal Special-purpose Science Foundation of China (Z0004105040311)
文摘The membrane transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis has been exploited for developing novel targeted drug delivery systems, which could have a variety of applications in the site-specific delivery of anticancer drugs, proteins and therapeutic genes into proliferating malignant cells that overexpress the transferrin receptors. This is achieved by coupling transferrin or monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor with therapeutic drugs or drug delivery vesicles. The transferrin conjugates can be obtained by use of either bifunctional chemical linkers or by genetic infusion of therapeutic peptides/proteins into the structure of transferrin / and monoclonal antibody to transferrin receptor. A variety of drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles and DNApolymer complexes （i.e. polyplex and lipoplex） were used to efficiently deliver the Wansferrin conjugates. Use of transferrin conjugates results in improvement in drug efficacy, selectivity and drug release as well as reduction in drug toxicity. This paper reviews the basic biochemistry of transferrin and the transferrin receptor as well as the strategy for developing targeted drug delivery system.
