CNIO researchers develop protein nanoparticles for drug delivery

A research team at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), led by Roger Castells-Graells, has designed and constructed two protein nanoparticles, referred to as “nanoboxes,” that are approximately 15 nanometers in diameter.

These structures feature a hollow center and could potentially serve as vehicles for transporting drugs through the body or as scaffolds for vaccines. In the case of vaccines, the nanoparticles could hold antigens to alert the immune system to viruses or tumor cells. However, researchers noted that these applications are still subject to experimental evaluation.

The assembly process involves twelve double pieces that join to close the frame. To overcome the complexity of designing these precise connections, the team utilized artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, specifically ProteinMPNN, to select amino acids that stabilize the connections. The study, which includes researchers Pablo San Segundo-Acosta and Todd Yeates, was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).