Biotin‐Modified Apoferritin Nanocarriers: Dual‐Targeting Strategy for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment

Abstract

This study introduces a novel dual‐targeting drug delivery system where mitoxantrone (MTO) is encapsulated within horse spleen apoferritin (HsAFr) nanocarriers, modified with biotin to enhance breast cancer targeting. This strategy aims to increase precision and efficacy by engaging multiple receptors in cancer cells. Structural analyses confirmed that the encapsulation and surface modification preserved the protein structure. The system demonstrated high entrapment efficiency (91%) and notable drug loading (9.75%). In vitro, the HsAFr–MTO–Btn complex exhibited greater cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 breast cancer cells compared to free MTO, attributed to enhanced cellular uptake and apoptosis through caspase‐3 activation. These results indicate that HsAFr–MTO–Btn is a promising approach for breast cancer therapy, with potential applications in other difficult‐to‐treat cancers.