RESUMO
PURPOSE: A novel folate receptor-targeted ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) drug delivery vehicle was constructed to improve the bioavailability, biosafety, and drug loading capacity of curcumin. Controlled release and targeted delivery was achieved by modifying the nanoparticles with folic acid (FA). METHODS: Folate-conjugated ß-CD-polycaprolactone block copolymers were synthesized and characterized. Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles (FA-Cur-NPs) were structured by self-assembly. The physicochemical properties, stability, release behavior and tumor-targeting ability of the fabricated nanoparticles were studied. RESULTS: The average particle size and drug loading of FA-Cur-NPs was 151.8 nm and 20.27%, respectively. Moreover, the FA-Cur-NPs exhibited good stability in vitro for 72 h. The drug release profiles showed that curcumin from FA-Cur-NPs was released significantly faster in a pH 6.4 phosphate buffered solution (PBS) than in pH 7.4, indicating that curcumin can be enriched around the tumor site compared with normal cells. Additionally, the internalization of FA-Cur-NPs was aided by FA receptor-mediated endocytosis, and its cytotoxicity was proportional to the cellular uptake efficiency. Furthermore, in vivo studies confirmed that FA-Cur-NPs exhibited marked accumulation in the tumor site and excellent antitumor activity. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that FA-Cur-NPs are a promising approach for improving cancer therapy through active targeting and controllable release.
Assuntos
Curcumina/administração & dosagem , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Ácido Fólico/administração & dosagem , Nanopartículas , Animais , Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Antineoplásicos/farmacocinética , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Curcumina/farmacocinética , Curcumina/farmacologia , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Liberação Controlada de Fármacos , Feminino , Receptores de Folato com Âncoras de GPI/metabolismo , Ácido Fólico/farmacocinética , Ácido Fólico/farmacologia , Células HeLa , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Nus , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Tamanho da Partícula , Poliésteres/química , Distribuição Tecidual , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de Xenoenxerto , beta-Ciclodextrinas/químicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Matrix-metalloproteinases, which are overexpressed in many types of cancer, can be applied to improve the bioavailability of chemotherapeutic drugs and guide therapeutic targeting. Thus, we aimed to develop enzyme-responsive nanoparticles based on a functionalized copolymer (mPEG-Peptide-PCL), which was sensitive to matrix metalloproteinase, as smart drug vesicles for enhanced biological specificity and reduced side effects. RESULTS: The rate of in vitro curcumin (Cur) release from Cur-P-NPs was not markedly accelerated in weakly acidic tumor microenvironment, indicating a stable intracellular concentration and a consistent therapeutic effect. Meanwhile, P-NPs and Cur-P-NPs displayed prominent biocompatibility, biostability, and inhibition efficiency in tumor cells. In addition, Cur-P-NPs showed higher fluorescence intensity than Cur-NPs in tumor cells, implying enhanced cell permeability and targeting ability. Moreover, the internalization and intracellular transport of Cur-P-NPs were mainly via macropinocytosis. Studies of pharmacodynamics and cellular uptake in vitro and biodistribution in vivo demonstrated that Cur-P-NPs had stronger target efficiency and therapeutic effect than Cur-DMSO and Cur-NPs in tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that Cur-P-NPs can be employed for active targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment and other biomedical applications.