Albumin-based delivery systems: Recent advances, challenges, and opportunities

Albumin and albumin-based biomaterials have been explored for various applications, including therapeutic delivery, as therapeutic agents, as components of tissue adhesives, and in tissue engineering applications. Albumin has been approved as a nanoparticle containing paclitaxel (Abraxane®), as an albumin-binding peptide (Victoza®), and as a glutaraldehyde-crosslinked tissue adhesive (BioGlue®). Albumin is also approved as a supportive therapy for various conditions, including hypoalbuminemia, sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, no other new albumin-based systems in a hydrogel format have been used in the clinic. A review of publicly available clinical trials indicates that no new albumin drug delivery formats are currently in the clinical development pipeline. Although albumin has shown promise as a carrier of therapeutics for various diseases, including diabetes, cancers, and infectious diseases, its potential for treating blood-borne diseases such as HIV and leukemia has not been translated. This review offers a perspective on the use of albumin-based drug delivery systems for a broader range of disease applications, considering the protein properties and a review of the currently approved albumin-based technologies. This review supports ongoing efforts to advance biomedical research and clinical interventions through albumin-based delivery systems.