Aptamer-Functionalized Liposomes as a Potential Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

More than one out of every three new cancers is a skin cancer, and the large majority are basal cell carcinomas (BCC). Targeted therapy targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival and blocks the growth as well as the spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. Therefore, in the present study AS1411 aptamer-functionalized liposomes for the treatment of BCC were obtained and characterized. Aptamer conjugation increased liposome size, suggesting that the presence of an additional hydrophilic molecule on the liposomal surface increased the hydrodynamic diameter. As expected, the negatively charged DNA aptamer reduced the surface potential of the liposomes. Vertical Franz diffusion cells with artificial membranes were used to evaluate the in vitro release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The aptamer moieties increase the stability of the liposomes and act as a supplementary steric barrier leading to a lower cumulative amount of the released 5-FU. The in vitro cell viability, targeting capability and apoptotic effects of liposomes on the human dermal fibroblasts and on the basal cell carcinoma TE 354.T cell lines were also evaluated. The results indicate that the functionalized liposomes are more efficient as nanocarriers than the non-functionalized ones.

Antitumoral Drug: Loaded Hybrid Nanocapsules Based on Chitosan with Potential Effects in Breast Cancer Therapy

“…The FTIR spectra of M samples present absorption bands at 578 cm −1 and 627 cm −1 corresponding to the Fe-O-Fe bonds from magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), [22,23], while the peaks at 1626 cm −1 and 3421 cm −1 are characteristic to the hydroxyl groups [24,25]. 4 The similar characteristic peaks can be found for CNM-1 and CNM-4 samples. All of the absorption peaks from 3440 cm −1 , 3426 cm −1 , and 3427 cm −1 that appeared in the spectra of CN, CNM-1, and CNM-4 are attributed to the stretching vibration of the secondary amine group (N-H) or hydroxyl groups (O-H).…”

“…Eef % = mi − ms mi × 100 (4) where ml is the amount of loaded 5-FU (mg), mi is the initial amount of 5-FU (mg), and ms is the amount of 5-FU found in the supernatant (mg).…”

Detection and beyond: challenges and advances in aptamer-based biosensors

“…173 This incorporation of PEG also increases the resistance of aptamers to nucleases. Furthermore, conjugation of aptamers with lipids can lead to the formation of aptamer-decorated liposomes, 174 which have reduced the renal clearance rate and increased the binding affinity due to multivalent effects. SELEX protocols should be improved to reduce the selection periods and increase the success rate of aptamer discovery.…”

Gene Therapy in Cancer Treatment: Why Go Nano?

“…To promote the functionalization with the genetic material several types of surfactants might be used. Lipid carrier nanoparticles have applied in the treatment of ocular diseases and infections [221][222][223]. Lipids nanoparticles charged with drugs or a condensed DNA core surrounded by lipid bilayers have been applied in retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration [221].…”