Lai P.S., Pai C.L., Hsu C.Y.
National Chung Hsing University, TW
Keywords: aptamer, cancer targeting, micelle, nucleolin
Targetable drug delivery system is a promising tool for cancer treatments. Herein we report a novel strategy of using G-quadruplex AS1411 aptamer-conjugated polyethylene-polylactide formed polymeric micelles (apt-PEG-PLA-PM) as a drug carrier to target cancer cells for chemotherapy. G-quadruplex AS1411 aptamer is known to target to nucleolin over-expressed in cancer cells, in this study, the effect of AS1411 aptamer-conjugated polymeric micelle for paclitaxel delivery into cancer cells by nucleolin-mediated internalization was investigated. Our results showed that the apt-PEG-PLA-PM exhibited higher intracellular paclitaxel accumulation and cytotoxicity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells than in M10 normal epithelium cells. The intracellular of apt-PEG-PLA-PM co-localized with anti-nucleolin antibody and the microtubules bundled in MCF-7 cells were observed after paclitaxel-loaded apt-PEG-PLA-PM co-incubation by confocal microscopy using immunofluorescence staining. It indicated that the apt-PEG-PLA-PM was mainly internalized into cells via the specific interaction of AS1411 aptamer with nucleolin on the cell surface and this nucleolin-targetable polymeric micelle can be a potential drug carrier for cancer therapy.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 3, Nanotechnology 2010: Bio Sensors, Instruments, Medical, Environment and Energy
Published: June 21, 2010
Pages: 330 - 333
Industry sector: Medical & Biotech
Topics: Biomaterials, Materials for Drug & Gene Delivery
ISBN: 978-1-4398-3415-2