Harnessing buffer solutions to modify the association state of Ferritin nanoparticles

Recent years have witnessed remarkable progress in the field of drug delivery driven by the pursuit of efficient and targeted delivery systems [1,2]. Among the promising candidates for such systems are ferritins, nanoparticles distinguished by their unique hollow sphere structure and the ability to specifically target cell surface receptors [3,4]. In a groundbreaking study, researchers developed a chimeric ferritin protein derived from both human and archaeal sources. This innovative design incorporates the BC loop of human H ferritin, endowing the chimeric ferritin with CD71 recognition capabilities [5]. Furthermore, the researchers introduced a novel modification to the ferritin protein, enhancing its drug delivery potential by utilizing buffer solutions to finely tune its assembly and disassembly properties [6]. These advancements open up new avenues for the study of encapsulation and delivery of small therapeutic and diagnostic molecules.