Gene therapy provides a novel method for cancer therapy. This study shows a DNA nanocomplex that is inspired from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) for ovarian cancer therapy. This DNA nanocomplex consists of a cationized monomethoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (d,l-lactide) (MPEG-PLA) nanoparticle and a plasmid encoding the matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVMP) that plays a critical role in the VSV-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. The cationized MPEG-PLA nanoparticle that is self-assembled by MPEG-PLA copolymer and N -[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy) propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP) has low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency (>80%). Intraperitoneal administration of the p VSVMP nanocomplex remarkably inhibits the intraperitoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer and does not cause significant systemic toxicity. The apoptosis induction and anti-angiogenesis are involved in the anticancer mechanism. This work demonstrates a VSV-inspired DNA nanocomplex that has potential application for the treatment of intraperitoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer.
Keywords: bioinspiration; cancer therapy; gene delivery; nanoparticles; ovarian cancer.