Platinum anticancer drugs (pictured) require a controlled delivery because they can easily be involved in unspecific reactions that reduce their efficiency and are responsible for severe side effects. Yangzhong Liu and colleagues, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, have prepared a highly biocompatible conjugate made of hybrid nanoparticles of human serum albumin and calcium phosphate.

This complex is very stable and protects the platinum(IV) prodrug from premature reduction in the extracellular environment. Upon reaching the acidic and hypoxic environment typical of tumor cells, the platinum drug is released in its active form from the conjugate and is able to bind to the target DNA. The researchers have also shown that their hybrid albumin conjugates inhibited the proliferation of various cancer cells more efficiently than cisplatin.

• Human Serum Albumin Conjugated Nanoparticles for pH and Redox-Responsive Delivery of a Prodrug of Cisplatin,
  Hongdong Shi, Qinqin Cheng, Siming Yuan, Xin Ding, Yangzhong Liu,
  Chem. Eur. J. 2015.
  DOI: 10.1002/chem.201502756