Protein nanoparticles offer unique advantages as drug delivery systems, including ease of synthesis, high drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. We are currently interested in developing albumin-based nanoparticles for cancer drug delivery. These nanoparticles will be loaded with therapeutic drugs and designed to undergo disassembly in response to external stimuli, enhancing their ability to release their therapeutic payload and penetrate dense tumors.  Additionally, we will conduct a detailed investigation into the molecular and cellular interactions of these nanoparticles to optimize their performance in biological systems.

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied in biomedical research for their ability to encapsulate and deliver poorly soluble drugs to targeted cells and tissues. In this context, understanding the cellular uptake mechanisms of NPs is crucial for advancing drug delivery systems. In our research we investigate NP endocytosis, with the long-term goal of understanding and optimizing the cell uptake of albumin-based NPs designed for cancer treatment.