Folic acid-targeted polydopamine-based surface modification of mesoporous silica nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for cancer therapy

In this study, a glutathione-functionalized Fe3O4@polydopamine (GSH-PD-IONPs) was designed and synthesized via facile dopamine chemistry. The method involved in situ coating of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with polydopamine, followed by the conjugation of glutathione to the polydopamine film on the surface of the particle. GSH-PD-IONPs were used to separate the glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged green fluorescent protein (GFP) via the enzyme-substrate interactions between GST and GSH. GSH-PD-IONPs showed high selectivity toward GST-GFP fusion proteins and can be potentially used for protein purification.