DSPE-PEG-Transferrin

The transferrin receptor (TfR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose function is to mediate iron absorption through its interaction with transferrin. In normal cells, the expression level of the receptor is low, and the expression of the transferrin receptor in cells (chronic lymphocytic non-Hodgkin tumors) is significantly increased due to the increased demand for iron in rapidly growing cells [2-4]. At present, two transferrin receptors, TfR1 and TfR2, have been found, both of which are type II transmembrane glycoproteins that bind to transferrin and mediate iron absorption. TfR1 is expressed in many cells (such as red blood cells, hepatocytes, monocytes), and can change its conformation according to the change of environmental pH, and convert the results of conformational change into a change in the binding strength of transferrin. TfR2 is mainly expressed in the liver, and its main function may be to regulate and maintain the homeostasis of iron ions in the body, while its role in transporting iron ions to rapidly dividing tissues is weak. Using the effective targeting function of transferrin receptor, the cross-linking of transferrin and drugs can improve the specific binding ability of drugs, but also improve the effect.