Size-tunable protein–polymer hybrid carrier for cell internalization

Abstract We describe a polymer-templated protein nanoball (PTPNB) system as an in-situ platform for the preparation of polymer-protein core-shell capsules containing hydrophobic cargos. These structures boast high protein activity through soft immobilization and maintain a consistent protein orientation through a specific interaction between the protein and polymer. We demonstrate the potential of this PTPNB system through bio-conjugation, encapsulation, and size-control of nanoballs in a one-pot process, and furthermore characterize the effects of nanoball size on endocytosis.