Hydrophobins provide a simple and efficient method to
improve the solubility and the stability of a suspension of
poorly water-soluble drugs, and in some instances, drug–
hydrophobin formulations have shown enhanced bioavailability
through oral administration.63 The inclusion of SC3 in formulations
of nifedipine and cyclosporine A (CyA) increases
the bioavailability of these drugs by sixfold and twofold,
respectively. A CyA:SC3 formulation results in slower but longer
lasting drug release. Decreasing the size of drug particles
can facilitate drug dissolution, thus enhancing bioavailability64
and hydrophobins have been used to prepare drug particles,
including ones as small as 100 nm.65,66 The presence of hydrophobin
protein also protects drug particles during processing,
formulation, and storage. Itraconazole nanoparticles prepared
with modified HFBI could be stored at 4C for up to 10
months