AS1411 aptamer and folic acid functionalized pH-responsive ATRP fabricated pPEGMA-PCL-pPEGMA polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy

Biomacromolecules. 2014 May 12;15(5):1737-52. doi: 10.1021/bm5001263. Epub 2014 Apr 15.

Abstract

Nonspecificity and cardiotoxicity are the primary limitations of current doxorubicin chemotherapy. To minimize side effects and to enhance bioavailability of doxorubicin to cancer cells, a dual-targeted pH-sensitive biocompatible polymeric nanosystem was designed and developed. An ATRP-based biodegradable triblock copolymer, poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-poly(caprolactone)-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (pPEGMA-PCL-pPEGMA), conjugated with doxorubicin via an acid-labile hydrazone bond was synthesized and characterized. Dual targeting was achieved by attaching folic acid and the AS1411 aptamer through EDC-NHS coupling. Nanoparticles of the functionalized triblock copolymer were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method, resulting in an average particle size of ∼140 nm. The biocompatibility of the nanoparticles was evaluated using MTT cytotoxicity assays, blood compatibility studies, and protein adsorption studies. In vitro drug release studies showed a higher cumulative doxorubicin release at pH 5.0 (∼70%) compared to pH 7.4 (∼25%) owing to the presence of the acid-sensitive hydrazone linkage. Dual targeting with folate and the AS1411 aptamer increased the cancer-targeting efficiency of the nanoparticles, resulting in enhanced cellular uptake (10- and 100-fold increase in uptake compared to single-targeted NPs and non-targeted NPs, respectively) and a higher payload of doxorubicin in epithelial cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and PANC-1), with subsequent higher apoptosis, whereas a normal (noncancerous) cell line (L929) was spared from the adverse effects of doxorubicin. The results indicate that the dual-targeted pH-sensitive biocompatible polymeric nanosystem can act as a potential drug delivery vehicle against various epithelial cancers such as those of the breast, ovary, pancreas, lung, and others.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Biocompatible Materials / administration & dosage
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / administration & dosage
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / pharmacology*
  • Particle Size
  • Polymerization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • AGRO 100
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Doxorubicin
  • Folic Acid