Drug Protein-Stabilized Biomimetic Amorphous Mineral Nanoparticles as Superior Drug Carriers

Minerals such as calcium carbonates and calcium phosphates are often used as drug protein carriers, which are urgently required for drug protein-based therapy, due to their high biocompatibility. However, their performance is constrained by some obstacles, such as the low loading capacity and short circulation half-life. Inspired by the in vivo growth of biominerals via the soluble protein-stabilized amorphous precursors, herein drug proteins are directly used to stabilize amorphous carbonated calcium phosphate (ACCP) in a controlled mineralization environment. The bioactivity of the drugs in the ACCP carrier is preserved due to the mild synthesis condition. The intrinsically high absorption capability of the ACCP nanoparticles (NPs) leads to an ultra-high protein loading capacity. In addition, the amorphous nature of the carrier ensures the homogeneous distribution of the protein molecules in the carrier, by which the drugs exhibit long-term release in vitro. The effectiveness of this strategy by the high osteogenic ability of insulin-like growth factor-1 loaded ACCP NPs is demonstrated. Therefore, this biomimetic strategy provides a promising nanoplatform for drug protein-based applications.