Albumin-based nanosystems in medicine

Proteins are natural and safe substitutes of the synthetic polymers for the development of drug delivery systems (DDS). Few of proteins have been approved for drug delivery purposes by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Among them, albumin is the most explored carrier for synthesis of therapeutic nanoparticles. Its usefulness was determined by the common accessibility, biocompatibility and the feasibility of accumulation in tissues with increased metabolism. Albumin with its properties is particularly attractive carrier for anti-arthritis and anti-cancer drugs. It is mainly used to design delivery systems for poorly soluble substances with low permeability through biological membranes. The albumin nanoparticles are characterized by favourable pharmacokinetics, high drug delivery efficiency and low cytotoxicity. In addition, they are biodegradable, relatively easy to prepare and non-immunogenic. Interest in the exploration of clinical applications of albumin-based drug delivery carriers, especially for those at the nanoscale, has increased in recent years. A lot of research have been done to design multifunctional theranostic nanosystems that could be used for both imaging and cancer therapy. This article aims at providing an overview of already commercialized and just emerging applications of albumin-based nanosystems as drug delivery carriers.