Aptamer-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Target-specific drug delivery system that can transport an effective dosage of anti-cancer drugs to the targeted tumor cells can significantly reduce drug toxicity to the normal cells and increase the therapeutic effect of the drug. In our work, we have evaluated the cytotoxic potential of paclitaxel-loaded silica nanoparticles (Si-PTX NPs) prepared by template-directed stöber synthesis technique. The particles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We have modified the surface of the drug-loaded particles chemically and conjugated a tumor-specific aptamer (Apt-Si-PTX NPs) to facilitate targeted drug delivery to the cancer cells. In vitro studies carried out demonstrated that the aptamerconjugated paclitaxel-loaded silica nanoparticles could target the cancer cells with high specificity and destroy them effectively, while sparing the normal cells. This work concludes that the aptamer-tagged paclitaxel-loaded silica nanoparticles are excellent targeting moieties for targeted drug delivery to tumor cells.

Aptamers: Active Targeting Ligands for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

“…In 2012, Aravind et al developed a paclitaxel doped silica nanoparticles, which were conjugated with a cancer-targeted aptamer. 106 The resulting Apt-Si-PTX nanoparticles showed enhanced selective killing efficiency for cancer cells compared to that of normal cells.…”

“…The most utilized nanomaterials for drug delivery include AuNPs, 102 , 103 QDs, 104 , 105 silica nanoparticles, 106 , 107 liposomes, 108 polymer micelles, 109 superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, 110 carbon nanotubes 111 and graphene-related materials. 112 , 113 In these nanomaterials-based delivery systems, aptamers were usually modified on the surface to render the targeting ability.…”

Multi-stimuli responsive Cu2S nanocrystals as trimodal imaging and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy agents

“…22-24 Additional conjugation to aptamers, antibodies, peptides etc., renders high level of cellular specificity to the nanocarrier, which could be utilized for focusing on the desired cells and negating non-specific cellular adhesion and or internalization. 25-28 …”

“…[22][23][24] Additional conjugation to aptamers, antibodies, peptides etc., renders a high level of cellular specificity to the nanocarrier, which could be utilized for focusing on the desired cells and negating non-specific cellular adhesion and/or internalization. [25][26][27][28] A few examples of recently reported theranostic agents include a multifunctional magnetic-plasmonic nanoagent that possesses magnetic resonance and photoacoustic imaging guided tumor photothermal therapy properties; 29 LDL labeled Au nanocrystals (NCs) that help the analysis and localization of LDL in vivo using multimodal whole body computed and spectral imaging; 30 Tumor angiogenesis mapping utilizing NaLuF 4 :Yb,Tm@NaGdF 4 ( 153 Sm) NCs that can confer signals for upconversion luminescence imaging, X-ray contrast imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and single-photon emission computed tomography; 31 magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles that can image cancer affected sites and deliver drugs there; 32 Fe 5 C 2 NPs based targeted theranostic platform for magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic tomography-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) etc. 33 These multi-agent nanocarriers report significantly improved therapeutic outcomes.…”

Aptamer-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy

“…Some of them are metal NP (gold NPs [117], magnetic NPs [118]) aptamer conjugates, soft NPs (polymer NPs [78,79], liposomes [119]) aptamer conjugates, silica NP-aptamer conjugates [120,121], quantum dot-aptamer conjugates [122], carbon nanotube-aptamer conjugates [41,123], and multifunctional NP-aptamer conjugates [124]. Drug carriers composed of erodible and biocompatible polymers excel in housing and releasing chemotherapeutic drugs at a controlled pace.…”