Lactoferrin Nanoparticles as Therapeutic Agent for Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a mammalian cationic iron-binding glycoprotein, present in many mammalian excretions and supporting newborn growth to food and pharmaceutical applications. It possesses antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antiparasitic activity thus, making it an important part of the host defense system. This review focusses on recent therapeutic advances of the natural bioactive protein Lf and its use as a potential treatment agent. Nanoparticles have been tremendously used for several clinical applications preferably as drug delivery system to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Effective conjugation of functionalized agents can improve the binding affinity of nanoparticles to specific areas of the body. Therefore, this property can ensure the protection of bioactive molecules from degradation and enabled prolonged sustainability without severe side-effects. In this study, significant advancements in Lf nanoparticle technology and their use in drug delivery arena have also been reviewed. Keywords: Lactoferrin, nanoparticles, drug delivery, therapeutic Cite this Article Prashant Agarwal, Ritika Gupta. Lactoferrin Nanoparticles as Therapeutic Agent for Infectious Diseases. Research and Reviews: Journal of Dairy Science and Technology . 2019; 7(3): 37–40p.