Chlorotoxin modified morusin-PLGA nanoparticles for targeted glioblastoma therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Oct 9;7(39):5896-5919. doi: 10.1039/c9tb01131e.

Abstract

Malignant brain tumors remain a major cause of concern and mortality as successful treatment is hindered due to the poor transport and low penetration of chemotherapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, a nano formulation composed of chlorotoxin (CTX)-conjugated morusin loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA-MOR-CTX) was devised against Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and its anti-proliferative effects were evaluated in vitro. The synthesized nanoparticles were loaded with morusin, a naturally derived chemotherapeutic drug, and surface conjugated with CTX, a peptide derived from scorpion venom, highly specific for chloride channels (CIC-3) expressed in glioma tumor cells, as well as for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2), which is up regulated in the tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, the anti-cancer potential of the NPs was assessed in U87 and GI-1 (human glioblastoma) cells. Antiproliferative, cell apoptosis, and other cell-based assays demonstrated that the PLGA-MOR-CTX NPs resulted in enhanced inhibitory effects on U87 and GI-1 glioma cells. Prominent cytotoxicity parameters such as ROS generation, enhanced caspase activity, cytoskeletal destabilization, and inhibition of MMP-activity were observed in glioblastoma cells upon PLGA-MOR-CTX NP treatment. The cytocompatibility observed with normal human neuronal cells (HCN-1A) and the enhanced lethal effects in glioblastoma cells highlight the potential of PLGA-MOR-CTX nanoparticles as promising therapeutic nanocarriers towards GBM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Biological Transport
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Liberation
  • Flavonoids / chemistry*
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer / chemistry*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Scorpion Venoms / chemistry*
  • Scorpion Venoms / pharmacology

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Flavonoids
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Scorpion Venoms
  • Chlorotoxin
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • morusin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9