Autonomous Silica Encapsulation and Sustained Release of Anticancer Protein

Abstract

We present a novel method for preparing a silica carrier for the sustained release of a proteinaceous pharmaceutical. This method makes use of the silicification activity of the protein itself, which autonomously formed a protein−silica composite upon simple incubation with a silica precursor. The composite was dissolved, and the encapsulated protein was released into a culture medium, thereby sustaining the protein’s activity for a long period of time