A green light-enhanced cytosolic protein delivery platform based on BODIPY-protein interactions

Development of cytosolic protein delivery platforms brings new possibilities for various incurable diseases. Strategies based on polymer/protein self-assembly have shown their potential in protein delivery. However, versatile photocontrolled platforms based on self-assembly for protein delivery are seldom reported. Herein, we report a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-modified polyamidoamine (PAMAM) with excellent photo-controllability and efficiency for the cytosolic delivery of various proteins. High serum stability was achieved by coating hyaluronic acid and human serum albumin on the surface of BODIPY-modified PAMAM/protein nanoparticles. The nanoparticles under green light irradiation allowed efficient intracellular delivery of multiple cargo proteins with different charges and molecular weights and promoted endosome escape. The study provides valuable guidance for the development of BODIPY derivative-based protein delivery systems and advances the research in intracellular protein delivery.