Enhanced anticancer efficacy and tumor targeting through folate-PEG modified nanoliposome loaded with 5-fluorouracil

• Published in: Advances in natural sciences. Nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 015008
• Main Authors: Le, Van Minh, Nho, Trung Duc Tran, Ly, Hai Trieu, Vo, Thanh Sang, Nguyen, Hoang Dung, Phung, Thi Thu Huong, Zou, Aihua, Liu, Jianwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hanoi IOP Publishing 01.03.2017
• Subjects: 5-flourouracil; 5-Fluorouracil; Anticancer properties; Apoptosis; Cancer; Cell death; Cytotoxicity; Drug delivery systems; Effectiveness; Endocytosis; folate receptor; Folic acid; Liposomes; Metabolism; nanoliposomes; Nanostructure; targeted drug delivery; Therapy; Time dependence; Toxicity; Uptakes; Vitamin B
• ISSN: 2043-6262; 2043-6254; 2043-6254; 2043-6262
• DOI: 10.1088/2043-6254/aa5982

Cancer targeted therapies have attracted considerable attention over the past year. Recently, 5-fluouracil (5-FU), which has high toxicity to normal cells and short half-life associated with rapid metabolism, is one of the most commonly used therapies in the treatment of cancer. In this study the folic acid-conjugated pegylated nanoliposomes were synthesized and then loaded into them with 5-FU to improve the anti-tumor efficacy. The average size of liposomes (LPs) was about 52.7 nm which was identified by TEM. In the liposome uptake studies, the level uptake of folate-conjugated liposomes has increased compared to non-conjugated LPs according to LPs concentration, incubation time and presence of concentration of free folic acid (FA). The MTT assay and apoptotic test were carried out in HCT116 and MCF-7 cells for 24 or 48 h. The results revealed that the folate-PEG modified 5-Fu loaded nanoliposomes had strong cytotoxicity to cancer cell compared to pure 5-FU or PEG modified 5-FU loaded liposomes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and mainly enhanced the cancer cell death through folate-mediated endocytosis. Hence, the folate-PEG modified nanoliposome is a potential targeted drug-delivery system for the treatment of FR-positive cancers.