Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Casein formulations as promising drug and gene delivery systems

5^th International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmaceutics & Novel Drug Delivery Systems

March 16-18, 2015 Crowne Plaza, Dubai, UAE

Nazik A. Elgindy

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Pharm Anal Acta

Abstract:

Drug delivery systems based on food proteins hold much promise because of their high nutritional value and excellent functional properties, including emulsification, gelation, foaming and water binding capacity. Food protein networks have the ability to interact with a wide range of active compounds via functional groups on their polypeptide primary structure, thus offering a variety of possibilities for reversible binding of active molecules and for protecting them until their release at the desired site within the body. Casein, CAS, the major milk protein, possesses a number of interesting properties that make it a good candidate for conventional and novel drug delivery systems. As a natural food product, this GRAS (generally recognized as safe) protein is biocompatible and biodegradable. This article reviews are aimed to associate bioactive molecules to casein and analyze the evidence of their efficacy in modifying the release and/or improving the bioavailability of the associated molecules. The high tensile strength of casein films, favors its use as an acceptable film-coating for tablets. Naturally occurring genipin and transglutaminase, were used as crosslinkers to prepare novel casein-based hydrogels for the controlled release of bioactives. Casein floating beads were developed to increase the residence time of drugs in the stomach based on its emulsifying and bubble-forming properties. Casein-based microparticles entrapping bioactive molecules were prepared via emulsificationchemical or enzymatic crosslinking, simple coacervation and electrostatic complexation. Casein nano-formulations were also prepared to deliver nutraceuticals and synthetic drugs via enzymatic crosslinking, graft copolymerization, heat-gelation and polyelectrolyte ionic complexation. CAS nanoparticles were used to encapsulate the hydrophobic anticancer drug, flutamide, aiming at controlling its release, enhancing its anti-tumor activity and reducing its hepatotoxicity. A significantly higher antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and apoptotic effects was demonstrated by the nanoparticles compared to drug solution in rat prostate cancer cells. Conclusively, these novel ionically-crosslinked milk protein nanovehicles offer a promising carrier to allow controlled intravenous delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs.