Lactoferrin (Lf) nanoparticles have been developed as a carrier of drugs and gene. Two main methods, desolvation technique and emulsification method, for preparation of protein nanoparticles have been reported so far, but most of the previous reports of Lf nanoparticles preparation are limited to emulsification method. In this study, we investigated the optimal conditions by desolvation technique for the preparation of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked bovine Lf (bLf) nanoparticles within the size range of 100–200 nm, and evaluated their properties as a carrier for oral and intravenous drug delivery. The experimental results of dynamic light scattering and Transmission Electron Microscope suggested that glutaraldehyde-crosslinked bLf nanoparticles with 150 nm in size could be produced by addition of 2-propanol as the desolvating solvent into the bLf solution adjusted to pH 6, followed by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. These cross-linked bLf nanoparticles were found to be compatible to blood components and resistant against rapid degradation by pepsin. Thus, cross-linked bLf nanoparticles prepared by desolvation technique can be applied as a drug carrier for intravenous administration and oral delivery.

乳铁蛋白（Lf）纳米粒子已被开发为药物和基因的载体。迄今为止，已经报道了两种主要的方法，即去溶剂化技术和乳化方法，用于制备蛋白质纳米颗粒，但是先前的大多数关于Lf纳米颗粒制备的报道都限于乳化方法。在这项研究中，我们研究了用去溶剂化技术制备100-200 nm范围内戊二醛交联的牛Lf（bLf）纳米颗粒的最佳条件，并评估了它们作为口服和静脉给药的载体的性质。动态光散射和透射电子显微镜的实验结果表明，可以通过在调节至pH 6的bLf溶液中添加2-丙醇作为去溶剂溶剂，制备尺寸为150 nm的戊二醛交联的bLf纳米颗粒。 。发现这些交联的bLf纳米颗粒与血液组分相容并且抵抗胃蛋白酶的快速降解。因此，通过去溶剂化技术制备的交联的bLf纳米颗粒可以用作用于静脉内施用和口服递送的药物载体。