Harnessing whey protein nanobiomaterials for tissue regeneration and cancer therapy: A comprehensive guide to recent innovations

Whey proteins (WPs) are the most actively flourishing class of pharmaceutically active compounds. WPs have high biological value and are dominated by crucial components such as α-La, β-Lg, LF and BSA. WPs, which are nonimmunogenic, biocompatible, and biodegradable, have the ability to entrap and transport hydrophobic substances. In addition to immune enhancement, they usually exhibit advanced functional properties such as emulsification, gelation, and high radical scavenging potential. Mechanistically, their subfractions display osteogenic and anticancer potential owing to their ability to modulate the IGF-1 concentration. The ability of metastatic cancer cells to impede plasmalemmal V-ATPase activity results in intracellular acidification and alkalization of the extracellular tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, these nanocarrier systems have an exclusive core-shell structure that can pass through the cell membrane and offer relatively simple manufacturing procedures, and increased loading capacity. The effective nanoscale delivery of WPs is expected to increase mechanical fixation and scaffold functionality and promote osteogenic differentiation and cell proliferation. These features offer promising avenues for unraveling the intricate biomedical applications of WPs nanoformulations. This review covers the composition, physicochemical properties, biological sources, and methods of production of WP-based nanobiomaterials. This review highlights the recent surge in the therapeutic prospects of these components in nanobiotechnology.