F(O)F(1)-ATPase Motor-Embedded Chromatophore as Drug Delivery System: Extraction, Cargo Loading Ability and Mucus Penetration Ability

Mucosal drug delivery permits direct and prompt drug absorption, which is capable of reducing undesirable decomposition that occurs before absorption. However, mucus clearance of those mucosal drug delivery systems strongly retards their actual application. Herein, we propose chromatophore nanoparticles embedded with F(O)F(1)-ATPase motors to promote mucus penetration. The F(O)F(1)-ATPase motor-embedded chromatophores were firstly extracted from Thermus thermophilus by using a gradient centrifugation method. Then, the model drug (curcumin) was loaded onto the chromatophores. The drug loading efficiency and entrapment efficiency were optimized by using different loading approaches. The activity, motility, stability and mucus permeation of the drug-loaded chromatophore nanoparticles were thoroughly investigated. Both the in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that the F(O)F(1)-ATPase motor-embedded chromatophore successfully enhanced mucus penetration glioma therapy. This study indicates that the F(O)F(1)-ATPase motor-embedded chromatophore is a promising alternative as a mucosal drug delivery system.