The Production and Design of Alternative Casein Proteins for Drug Delivery

β-casein, one of the major proteins in milk can spontaneously self-assemble into core-shell micellar structures. Our lab developed the micelles as carriers, showing they can effectively entrap hydrophobic drugs within their core, and improve solubility as well as bioavailability. My research focused on the production of β-casein using fermentation, overcoming difficulties associated with the structure of the protein, in particular the combination of being unstructured as well as amphiphilic. I can now produce clean and functional proteins that form micelles, and encapsulate a range of hydrophobic bioactive compounds to a similar level and sometimes better than the natural protein. We further developed a methodology to use the micelle as reactors for changings drugs forms and properties.