Research progress of ferritin nanocage for drug delivery systems

As a widely existing natural nanoparticle in living organisms, ferritin nanocage was proven to be a potential nanomaterial in the biomedical field, due to its excellent biocompatibility, specific active targeting properties, ease for preparation or modification, and unique self-assembly properties. This review presents an overview of ferritin nanocage in structural characteristics, surface modifications, and outlines its practical applications for drug delivery, medical imaging, as well as disease diagnosis or treatment. The researches of ferritin nanocage as drug carriers are classified and summarized in carrying different kinds of chemical components of drugs or nucleic acid according to different characteristics. Finally, the prospects in the development of ferritin nanocage are also outlined.