Unlocking the Treasure Box: The Role of HEPES Buffer in Disassembling an Uncommon Ferritin Nanoparticle

Ferritins are ideal nanoparticles as drug delivery systems due to their hollow-sphere structure and the ability target specific receptors on cell surface. Here, we develop characterize a new ferritin derived from chimeric humanized A. fulgidus one, already designed recognize TfR1 receptor. Starting synthetic gene of this protein, replaced two positively charged amino acids with alanine residues close large triangular pores its These mutations make protein nanoparticle suitable incorporate even small therapeutics without leakage. Size-exclusion chromatography shows that assembling/disassembling cage can be easily fine-tuned by varying HEPES buffer MgCl2 concentration. The opened using 150 mM magnesium ions. Adding divalent cation solution promotes quick assembly 24-mer. development paves way for encapsulation studies molecules therapeutic diagnostic purposes.