Synthesis of folate targeted theranostic cubosomal platform for co-delivery of bismuth oxide and doxorubicin to melanoma in vitro and in vivo

Liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) have gained much attention in cancer nanomedicines due to their unique features such as high surface area, storage stability, and sustained-release profile. In the current study, a novel LCNP for co-encapsulation of Bi2O3 and hydrophilic doxorubicin (DOX) was fabricated and functionalized with folic acid (FA) to achieve efficient tumor targeting toward CT-scan imaging and chemotherapy of melanoma in vitro and in vivo. LCNPs Bi2O3 NPs were prepared using glycerol monooleate-pluronic F-127 (GMO/PF127/water). Firstly, GMO/water were homogenized to prepare LC gel. Then, the stabilizer aqueous solution (PF127/Bi2O3/DOX) was added to the prepared LC gel and homogenized using homogenization and ultrasonication. The formulated NPs exhibited superior stability with encapsulation efficiency. High cytotoxicity and cellular internalization of the FA-Bi2O3-DOX-NPs were observed in comparison with Bi2O3-DOX-NPs and the free DOX in folate-receptor (FR) overexpressing cells (B16F10) in vitro. Moreover, ideal tumor suppression with increased survival rate were observed in tumorized mice treated with FA-Bi2O3-DOX-NPs compared to those treated with non-targeted one. On the other hand, the CT-imaging ability of the Bi2O3-DOX-NPs was tested inB16F10 tumor-bearing mice. The obtained data indicated a high potential of the developed targeted theranostic FA-Bi2O3-DOX-NPs for diagnostics and treatment of melanoma.

Surface engineering of hollow gold nanoparticle with mesenchymal stem cell membrane and MUC-1 aptamer for targeted theranostic application against metastatic breast cancer

Mesenchymal stem cell membrane (MSCM)-coated biomimetic doxorubicin-loaded hollow gold nanoparticles were fabricated and decorated with MUC1 aptamer in order to provide smart theranostic platform. The prepared targeted nanoscale biomimetic platform was extensively characterized and evaluated in terms of selective delivery of DOX and CT-scan imaging. The fabricated system illustrated spherical morphology with 118 nm in diameter. Doxorubicin was loaded into the hollow gold nanoparticles through physical absorption technique with encapsulation efficiency and loading content of 77%±10 and 31%±4, respectively. The in vitro release profile demonstrated that the designed platform could respond to acidic environment, pH 5.5 and release 50% of the encapsulated doxorubicin during 48 h, while 14% of the encapsulated doxorubicin was released in physiological condition, pH 7.4 up to 48 h. The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments on 4T1 as MUC1 positive cell line illustrated that the targeted formulation could significantly increase mortality at 0.468 and 0.23 µg/ml of equivalent DOX concentration compared to non-targeted formulation while this cytotoxicity was not observed in CHO as MUC1 negative cell line. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed high tumor accumulation of the targeted formulation even 24 h after intravenous injection which induced effective tumor growth suppression against 4T1 tumor bearing mice. On the other hand, existence of hollow gold in this platform provided CT scan imaging capability of the tumor tissue in 4T1 tumor bearing mice up to 24 h post-administration. The obtained results indicated that the designed paradigm are promising and safe theranostic system for fighting against metastatic breast cancer.

Targeted poly(L-glutamic acid)-based hybrid peptosomes co-loaded with doxorubicin and USPIONs as a theranostic platform for metastatic breast cancer

Peptosomes, as a vesicular polypeptide-based system and a versatile carrier for co-delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials, provide great delivery opportunities due to the intrinsic biocompatibility and biodegradability of the polypeptides backbone. In the current study, a novel poly(L-glutamic acid)-block-polylactic acid di-block copolymer (PGA-PLA) was synthesized in two steps. Firstly, γ-benzyl L-glutamate-N-carboxy anhydride (BLG-NCA) and 3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione were polymerized using N-hexylamine and benzyl alcohol as initiators to produce poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate (PBLG) and polylactic acid. Then, PBLG was deprotected to produce PGA. Secondly, PGA was conjugated to the benzyl-PLGA to fabricate PGA-PLA diblock copolymer. The synthesized diblock copolymer was used for the encapsulation of doxorubicin, as hydrophilic anticancer and ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIONs) as hydrophobic contrast agent within aqueous core and bilayer of vesicular peptosome, respectively via double emulsion method. The prepared peptosomes (Pep@USPIONs-DOX) controlled the release of DOX (<15 % of the encapsulated DOX release up to 240 h of incubation at the physiological conditions) while increasing the stability and solubility of the hydrophobic USPIONs. Then, AS1411 DNA aptamer was decorated on the surface of the PGA-PLA peptosomes (Apt-Pep@USPIONs-DOX). The prepared targeted and non-targeted platforms showed spherical morphology with hydrodynamic sizes of 265 ± 52 and 229 ± 44 nm respectively. In vitro cellular cytotoxicity and cellular uptake were studied in nucleolin positive (4T1) and nucleolin negative (CHO) cell lines. Cellular uptake of the targeted formulation was greater than that of non-targeted peptosome, while cellular internalization of these peptosomes was identical in CHO cells. Moreover, targeted peptosomes showed greater toxicity than non-targeted peptosome in 4T1 cell line. The prepared theranostic targeted peptosomes demonstrated improved capability in terms of survival rate, biodistribution, tumor suppression efficiency, and MR imaging in the 4T1 tumor-bearing mice.

Preparation of targeted theranostic red blood cell membranes-based nanobubbles for treatment of colon adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Designing and fabrication of theranostic systems based on nanoscale gaseous vesicular systems, named nanobubbles (NBs), attracted enormous interest in recent years. Biomimetic vesicular platform (V-RBC-M) can improve the pharmacokinetics of the prepared platform due to augmented circulation half-life, desirable biodegradability and biocompatibility and reduced immunogenicity.

METHODS

V-RBC-M were used for the encapsulation of lipophilic camptothecin (CPT) in the bilayer of vesicles through top-down method, followed by filling the core of V-RBC-M with inert SF6 gas to fabricate NBs with ultrasonic contrast enhancement capability (SF6-NB-CPT). In the next step, targeted NBs were formed via decoration of MUC1 aptamer on the surface of NBs (Apt-SF6-NB-CPT).

RESULTS

The designed bio-NBs indicated high encapsulation efficiency and the sustained release of CPT at pH 7.4. In vitro study demonstrated higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of Apt-SF6-NB-CPT compared to SF6-NB-CPT in MUC1-overexpressing cells (C26). In vivo antitumor efficacy of the prepared NBs on C26 bearing BALB/c mice showed greater therapeutic efficacy and survival rate for Apt-SF6-NB-CPT. In this regard, SF6-NB-CPT showed 58% tumor growth suppression while Apt-SF6-NB-CPT system provided 95% tumor growth suppression. Furthermore, echogenic capability of SF6-NB-CPT was demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo ultrasonic imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding demonstrated that the prepared targeted NBs are a promising theranostic platform with effective therapeutic and diagnotic potentials.