Folate-polyethylene glycol conjugated carboxymethyl chitosan for tumor-targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil

A novel targeted anticancer drug delivery strategy: Cnidium officinale polysaccharide conjugated with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil and folic acid for ovarian cancer therapy

To mitigate adverse reactions induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Cnidium officinale fraction 2 (F2) polysaccharides served as the macromolecular carrier, facilitating its reaction with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) for producing F2-C-5-FU. Subsequently, this compound could react with folic acid (FA) through the ester bond, forming F2-C-5-FU-FA, as verified through NMR analysis. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of F2-C-5-FU-FA was evaluated using SKOV-3 cells that expressed folate receptor (FR) and FR-deficient A549 cells, showing greater cytotoxicity in the SKOV-3 cell line due to the FRs on the cell membrane. In vivo experiments were conducted on SKOV-3-bearing xenograft mice using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Animals injected with F2-C-5-FU-FA exhibited significantly stronger targeting of tumor tissue compared to those injected with F2-C-5-FU. These findings highlighted enhanced drug delivery and accumulation in targeted tumor regions facilitated by folate-targeted conjugates. Moreover, F2-C-5FU-FA showed reduced cardiac toxicity in mice and minimal spleen accumulation, indicating a negligible effect on the immune system. Overall, this study introduced a novel strategy for achieving highly efficient anticancer drug delivery into tumor cells that express FR.

Study the Anticancer Properties of Thymol-Loaded PEGylated Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Conjugated with Folic Acid

Phenolic compounds such as Thymol have an effective role in suppressing cancer, however, their low solubility in aqueous solution has limited their use. This study aimed to prepare Thymol (TY)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles surface-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated with folic acid (FA) and evaluate their inhibitory activity on cancer cells. The TY-BSA-PEG-FA was characterized using DLS, FESEM, and FTIR. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was evaluated indirectly by using UV absorption. The antioxidant property of nanoparticles was evaluated by 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing ability of plasm (FRAP) methods. The effects of nanoparticles against cancer cells were investigated by MTT, AO/PI, flow cytometry, and real-time qPCR methods. The results showed the spherical morphology of TY-BSA-PEG-FA with an average size of 70.0 nm, a PDI of 0.32, a zeta potential of -11.3 mV, and an EE of 89.0±2.3 %. The cytotoxicity effects of nanoparticles against all cell lines were in a concentration-dependent manner. AGS gastric cancer cells were reported to be the most vulnerable to treatment, while pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) and normal skin cells (HFF) would be the most resistant. The SubG1 phase arrest of about 66 % occurred at 85 μg/mL. An increase in apoptotic cells in fluorescent staining, along with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increased expression of the BAX gene demonstrated the induction of apoptosis in treated cells. The powerful inhibitory effect of nanoparticles in inhibiting ABTS free radicals (IC50 =82 μg/mL) and DPPH free radicals (IC50 =844 μg/mL) and the ability to reduce iron ions indicated the antioxidant effects of TY-BSA-PEG-FA. Based on these results, the synthesized nanoparticles may be suitable for further investigation in the treatment of cancer, notably gastric cancer.

Folate Conjugated Polyethylene Glycol Probe for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

A targeted delivery system is primarily intended to carry a potent anticancer drug to specific tumor sites within the bodily tissues. In the present study, a carrier system has been designed using folic acid (FA), bis-amine polyethylene glycol (PEG), and an anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). FA and PEG were joined via an amide bond, and the resulting FA-PEG-NH2 was coupled to 5-FU producing folate-polyethylene glycol conjugated 5-fluorouracil (FA-PEG-5-FU). Spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, 1HNMR, FTIR, and HPLC) were used for the characterization of products. Prodrug (FA-PEG-5-FU) was analyzed for drug release profile (in vitro) up to 10 days and compared to a standard anticancer drug (5-FU). Folate conjugate was also analyzed to study its folate receptors (FR) mediated transport and in vitro cytotoxicity assays using HeLa cancer cells/Vero cells, respectively, and antitumor activity in tumor-bearing mice models. Folate conjugate showed steady drug release patterns and improved uptake in the HeLa cancer cells than Vero cells. Folate conjugate treated mice group showed smaller tumor volumes; specifically after the 15th day post-treatment, tumor sizes were decreased significantly compared to the standard drug group (5-FU). Molecular docking findings demonstrated importance of Trp138, Trp140, and Lys136 in the stabilization of flexible loop flanking the active site. The folic acid conjugated probe has shown the potential of targeted drug delivery and sustained release of anticancer drug to tumor lesions with intact antitumor efficacy.

Soybean lecithin stabilizes disulfiram nanosuspensions with a high drug-loading content: remarkably improved antitumor efficacy

Disulfiram (DSF) has been considered as "Repurposing drug" in cancer therapy in recent years based on its good antitumor efficacy. DSF is traditionally used as an oral drug in the treatment of alcoholism. To overcome its rapid degradation and instability, DSF nanosuspensions (DSF/SPC-NSps) were prepared using soybean lecithin (SPC) as a stabilizer of high drug-loaded content (44.36 ± 1.09%). Comprehensive characterization of the nanosuspensions was performed, and cell cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumor efficacy and biodistribution were studied. DSF/SPC-NSps, having a spherical appearance with particle size of 155 nm, could remain very stable in different physiological media, and sustained release. The in vitro MTT assay indicated that the cytotoxicity of DSF/SPC-NSps was enhanced remarkably compared to free DSF against the 4T1 cell line. The IC50 value decreased by 11-fold (1.23 vs. 13.93 μg/mL, p < 0.01). DSF/SPC-NSps groups administered via intravenous injections exhibited better antitumor efficacy compared to the commercial paclitaxel injection (PTX injection) and had a dose-dependent effect in vivo. Notably, DSF/SPC-NSps exhibited similar antitumor activity following oral administration as PTX administration via injection into a vein. These results suggest that the prepared nanosuspensions can be used as a stable delivery vehicle for disulfiram, which has potential application in breast cancer chemotherapy.

Nd3+ sensitized core-shell-shell nanocomposites loaded with IR806 dye for photothermal therapy and up-conversion luminescence imaging by a single wavelength NIR light irradiation

To perform photothermal therapy (PTT) and luminescence imaging by a single wavelength NIR light irradiation, we have designed and prepared a novel nanocomposite incorporating the IR806 photothermal sensitizers (PTS) into the core-shell-shell NaYF₄:Yb,Er@ NaYF₄:Yb@NaYF₄:Yb,Nd up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Irradiation with the 793 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser, the Nd³⁺ ions in the UCNPs were sensitized to up-convert energy via Yb³⁺ to the Er³⁺ ions to emit visible light at 540 nm and 654 nm, as well as to down-convert energy to the Yb³⁺ ions to emit NIR light at 980 nm. For luminescence imaging, the 793 nm NIR radiation is more suitable to use for deeper-tissue penetration and to reduce overheating problem due to water absorption as compared to 980 nm radiation. Additionally, the same 793 nm NIR radiation could also excite the IR806 dye for effective PTT. Surface modifications of the UCNPs with mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) and polyallylamine (PAH) allow stable loading of IR806 dye and further derivatization with polyethylene glycol-folic acid (PEG-FA) for tumor targeting. Preliminary in vitro studies demonstrated that the final UCNP@mSiO₂/IR806@PAH-PEG-FA nanocomposites (UCNC-FAs) could be uptaken by the MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and were “dark” viable, and when irradiated with the 793 nm laser, the MDA-MB-231 cell viability was effectively reduced. This indicated that the UCNC-FAs nanocomposites could be potentially useful for targeted photothermal therapy and up-conversion luminescence imaging by a single wavelength NIR light irradiation.

Improving Tumor Specificity and Anticancer Activity of Dasatinib by Dual-Targeted Polymeric Micelles

To improve tumor targetability and drug efficacy and decrease drug resistance of dasatinib (DSB), the multifunctional micellar nanoparticles that combined the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2)-sensitive tumor (site) targeting with folate receptor-mediated tumor (cell) targeting were developed. Two major functional polymers, polyethylene glycol (5000 Da)-MMP2-sensitive peptide-phosphoethanolamine (PEG5k-pp-PE) and folic acid-polyethylene glycol (2000 Da)-phosphoethanolamine (FA-PEG2k-PE), were synthesized to construct the dual-targeted micellar nanoparticles (MMP/FR micelles). In the absence of MMP2, the FA was shielded by PEG5k and the MMP/FR micelles showed low bioactivity. In the presence of MMP2, the nanoparticulate structure, stability, and cargo release profile of the MMP/FR micelles were not significantly affected, however, the MMP2-mediated PEG5k deshielding and FA exposure remarkably increased the cellular uptake and anticancer activity of the micelles in the MMP2 and FR expressing (MMP2+/FR+) cells, including multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells, rather than the MMP2- and FR- cells. In the 3D MDR tumor spheroids, the significant MMP2-dependent tissue penetration, uptake and cytotoxicity of the MMP/FR micelles were also observed. Furthermore, in the in vivo biodistribution study, the MMP2 and FR dual targeting strategy could significantly prolong the systemic circulation, decrease the nonspecific distribution in nontumor tissues, and increase the tumor accumulation of the polymeric micelles in a melanoma xenograft mouse model. The MMP2-sensitive FR-targeted micelles might have great potential as a tumor-targeted platform for delivery of molecular targeted therapeutics.

Synthesis of folate‑chitosan nanoparticles loaded with ligustrazine to target folate receptor positive cancer cells

In addition to its vasodilatory effect, ligustrazine (LZ) improves the sensitivity of multidrug resistant cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. To enhance the specificity of LZ delivery to tumor cells/tissues, folate-chitosan nanoparticles (FA-CS-NPs) were synthesized by combination of folate ester with the amine group on chitosan to serve as a delivery vehicle for LZ (FA-CS-LZ-NPs). The structure of folate-chitosan and characteristics of FA-CS-LZ-NPs, including its size, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and release rates were analyzed. MCF-7 (folate receptor-positive) and A549 (folate receptor-negative) cells cultured with or without folate were treated with FA-CS-LZ-NPs, CS-LZ-NPs or LZ to determine cancer-targeting specificity of FA-CS-LZ-NPs. Fluorescence intensity of intracellular LZ was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and concentration of intracellular LZ was detected by HPLC. The average size of FA-CS-LZ-NPs was 182.7±0.56 nm, and the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity was 59.6±0.23 and 15.3±0.16% respectively. The cumulative release rate was about 95% at pH 5.0, which was higher than that at pH 7.4. There was higher intracellular LZ accumulation in MCF-7 than that in A549 cells and intracellular LZ concentration was not high when MCF-7 cells were cultured with folate. These results indicated that the targeting specificity of FA-CS-LZ-NPs was mediated by folate receptor. Therefore, the FA-CS-LZ-NPs may be a potential folate receptor-positive tumor cell targeting drug delivery system that could possibly overcome multidrug resistance during cancer therapy.