A wogonin-loaded glycyrrhetinic acid-modified liposome for hepatic targeting with anti-tumor effects

Abstract

Liver cancer has become one of the most common fatal cancers worldwide, with morbidity rates increasing each year. Wogonin (WG) is an attractive candidate for the development of new anti-cancer drugs. In this study, a novel glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified WG liposome was developed for use in targeted anti-cancer therapy. Three types of WG preparations were investigated: free wogonin in solution (WG), passively targeted wogonin liposomes (WG-Lip) and GA-modified wogonin liposomes (GA-WG-Lip). The entrapment efficiency, size and zeta potential were measured. Cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, in vivo bio-distribution and anti-tumor efficacy were also investigated. Addition of GA to the liposomes did not diminish the high entrapment efficiency observed in the liposomes without GA. GA-WG-Lip showed the greatest uptake and had an IC 50 value 1.46 times higher than that of WG-Lip. The GA-modified liposomes rapidly accumulated in the liver with a long retention time, and also displayed a better tumor inhibitory ratio than that of the unmodified liposomes. Overall, the data indicated that use of the GA-modified WG liposomes conferred improvements in biodistribution, accumulation at the tumor and therapeutic efficacy, perhaps due to increased receptor-mediated uptake of liposomes by liver-targeted cells. Together, these data show that GA-WG-Lip is a promising means of targeted therapy for liver cancer.

Inhibition of telomerase activity and cell growth by free and nanoliposomal forms of punicalagin in human leukemia cell line K562

“…Similar anticancer activity had been reported in previous investigations with other liposomal natural plant products such as celastrol [25], epigallocatechin-3-gallate [24], gossypol [26], wagonin [27], berberin [28], curcumin [29] and tea polyphenol [30] in various cancer cell lines. Therefore, punicalagin and other effective plantderived agents in the free and encapsulated forms may be considered as promising strategy to develop new anticancer drugs.…”

“…Several hypotheses, including increased penetration of plant-derived compounds into cells and stability of encapsulated materials may explain the mechanism of enhanced anticancer efficacies of this nanoliposomal formulation [25][26][27][28][29][30]. Our data showed a significant and positive correlation between telomerase inhibition and induction of apoptosis.…”

Hepatocellular carcinoma-targeted effect of configurations and groups of glycyrrhetinic acid by evaluation of its derivative-modified liposomes

“…7 Recently, some GA-modified liposomes have been developed with higher drug accumulation in the liver and better anti-HCC activity. [5][6][7][8][9] We have confirmed GA receptors on HCC cells formerly according to the binding effect between fluorescence-labeled GA and GA receptors. 10 Therefore, it could be expected that GA-modified liposomes could target selectively to HCC cells and tissues.…”

Targeted delivery of etoposide to cancer cells by folate-modified nanostructured lipid drug delivery system

“…The antitumor effects of NLCs were investigated in gastric tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice models (Tian et al, 2014). BALB/c mice were inoculating s.c. in the left armpit with SGC7901 cells suspended in PBS.…”