Self-assembled fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles-mediated collaborative lncRNA CCAT1 silencing and curcumin delivery for synchronous colorectal cancer theranostics

J Nanobiotechnology. 2021 Aug 11;19(1):238. doi: 10.1186/s12951-021-00981-7.

Abstract

Background: Cancer synergistic therapy strategy in combination with therapeutic gene and small molecule drug offers the possibility to amplify anticancer efficiency. Colon cancer-associated transcript-1 (CCAT1) is a well identified oncogenic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) exerting tumorigenic effects in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC).

Results: In the present work, curcumin (Cur) and small interfering RNA targeting lncRNA CCAT1(siCCAT1) were co-incorporated into polymeric hybrid nanoparticles (CSNP), which was constructed by self-assembling method with two amphiphilic copolymers, polyethyleneimine-poly (D, L-lactide) (PEI-PDLLA) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy (polyethylene glycol) (DSPE-mPEG). Owing to the multicolor fluorescence characteristics of PEI-PDLLA, the constructed CSNP could be served as a theranostic nanomedicine for synchronous therapy and imaging both in vitro and in vivo. Resultantly, proliferation and migration of HT-29 cells were efficiently inhibited, and the highest apoptosis ratio was induced by CSNP with coordination patterns. Effective knockdown of lncRNA CCAT1 and concurrent regulation of relevant downstream genes could be observed. Furthermore, CSNP triggered conspicuous anti-tumor efficacy in the HT-29 subcutaneous xenografts model with good biosafety and biocompatibility during the treatment.

Conclusion: On the whole, our studies demonstrated that the collaborative lncRNA CCAT1 silencing and Cur delivery based on CSNP might emerge as a preferable and promising strategy for synergetic anti-CRC therapy.

Keywords: Co-delivery; Combinational therapy; Curcumin; LncRNA CCAT1; RNAi; Theranostic nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polymers
  • Precision Medicine
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / chemistry
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics

Substances

  • CCAT1 long noncoding RNA, human
  • Drug Combinations
  • Polymers
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Curcumin