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Human ferritin for tumor detection and therapy
Author(s) -
Fan Kelong,
Gao Lizeng,
Yan Xiyun
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1939-0041
pISSN - 1939-5116
DOI - 10.1002/wnan.1221
Subject(s) - ferritin , transferrin receptor , nanomedicine , iron oxide nanoparticles , in vivo , protein subunit , transferrin , nanoparticle , computational biology , chemistry , nanotechnology , biophysics , cancer research , biochemistry , medicine , materials science , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology
Ferritin, a major iron storage protein found in most living organisms, is composed of a 24‐subunit protein cage with a hollow interior cavity. Serum ferritin serves as a critical marker to detect total body iron status. However, recent research reveals a number of novel functions of ferritin besides iron storage; for example, a ferritin receptor, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), has been identified and serum ferritin levels are found to be elevated in tumors. A particular new finding is that magnetoferritin nanoparticles, biomimetically synthesized using H‐chain ferritin to form a 24‐subunit cage with an iron oxide core, possess intrinsic dual functionality, the protein shell specifically targeting tumors and the iron oxide core catalyzing peroxidase substrates to produce a color reaction allowing visualization of tumor tissues. Here we attempt to summarize current research on ferritin, particularly newly identified functions related to tumors, in order to address current challenges and highlight future directions. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2013, 5:287–298. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1221 This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease