Bisphosphonates activated keratin assembled nanoparticle targeting bone fracture for enhanced immunomodulatory and osteoinductivity

Bone fractures pose significant clinical challenges and require innovative solutions for effective treatment and rapid recovery. Nanoscale protein-based materials are prominent in biotechnology and biomedicine, demonstrating versatility in biological processes and drug delivery. Herein, we designed and fabricated self-assembled keratin nanoparticles via a bisphosphonate (BP)-activated conformation-conservative assembly process. We determined the structural properties of the nanoparticles and explored the immunomodulatory and osteoinductivity functions retained from keratin. In addition, the keratin-BP nanoparticles could repair bone fractures. This study on multifunctional self-assembled protein-drug nanoparticles provides useful baseline data for exploring novel therapeutic options for acute bone fracture and other diseases.