Protein-based nanomaterials have transformed the nanotheranostics arena with their biocompatibility and biodegradability characteristics. The most prominent applications are in diagnostic biosensors and for controlled release drug delivery due to their non-immunogenic nature, along with options for surface modifications. Still, inefficient targeting is the primary grounds for cancer-related mortality worldwide, and hence there is a rise in demand for alternative novel therapeutic strategies. Additionally, fluorescence-based detection is a highly sensitive and precise tool applied in diagnostics due to its lower interference and better sensitivity. But addition of a separate fluorecsence molecule, adds the bulkiness of the therapeutic molecule, and probably augment immunogenicity. Biomimetic fluorescent nanoparticles will be able to resolve these issues, with added targeting ability.The albumin nanoparticles loaded with active therapeutic materials bind to various cell surface receptors and specifically accumulate inside cancer cells, putting them as a promising vehicle for therapeutic drug delivery.
In this study, we have fabricated autofluorescent albumin based nanoparticles and established their potential in vitro pH sensing and label free imaging capability [1]. The concurrent drug delivery potential of albumin based nanoparticles was explored in MOLT4 and A549 cells, by increased reactive oxygen species generation, altered mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell cycle profile with apoptosis. We have also developed proapoptotic targeting peptide (TRAIL-RGD/NGR) conjugated paclitaxel loaded biomimetic platelet lysate nanoparticles for enhanced drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy [2]. The nanoparticles were fabricated with the proapototic peptide and paclitaxel to augment therapeutic targeting. The platelet lysate nanoparticles had the similar physiochemical properties as of albumin nanoparticles. Subsequently, we checked the in vitro therapeutic ability against human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cells. We observed enhanced therapeutic ability of these targeting peptide conjugated paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles with potential imaging capabilities. We also observed increased expression of the stem cell related markers on the cancer cells after drug tretatment. This elucidates the probable mechanism of cancer stemcell survival after chemotherapy. Overall, the manufactured near-infrared fluorescent albumin based nanoparticles with a long lifetime can be a used as a potential theranostic agent for biomedical applications.
Resistance to chemotherapy is the major cause of treatment failure due to expression of several cell surface receptors and drug efflux pumps. Thus we have explored expression of several cancer related marker expression after treatment of PAC loaded PL nanoparticles to A549 cells. We found overexpression of several cancer cell related markers after the treatment. This indicates cancer stem cell survival is through expression of several markers unrelated to its niche, for its evading immune reccognition. Moreover this expression data can be utilized to design superior cancer targeted therapies.

Publications:
[1] B. Patra, A. K. Mishra, and R. S. Verma, Label free serum albumin nanoparticles for bioimaging and Trojan horse like drug delivery, Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, vol. 7 (1), p. 100406, 2022.
[2] B. Patra, A. K. Mishra, and R. S. Verma, Enhanced anticancer activity of TRAIL-RGD/NGR peptide conjugated biomimetic platelet lysate nanoparticles. (Manuscript under preparation)