Suckerin Protein Colloids used in Drug Delivery Applications

Abstract

This thesis is the first report of suckerin proteins extracted from the sucker ring teeth (SRT) of the Jumbo Squid, being used for drug delivery applications. The main protein used on this work, suckerin-39, was expressed through E. Coli cultures and purified with water-based treatments. This protein was processed into particles with average size of 766 nm to be used as carriers for a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin. The particles were chemically cross-linked to increase their stability, and doxorubicin was successfully loaded into these particles that showed controlled released kinetics at different pH. The secondary structure of the particles was determined to be random orientated β-sheet domains and random α-coil domains, and the interaction between the β-sheet and the hydrophobic drug was deemed to be fundamental for a controlled release of doxorubicin. These SRT particles were able to be internalized by HeLa cells, which indicates their great potential as a chemotherapeutic drug carrier for cancer therapy in the future.