Folic acid conjugated nanoliposomes as promising carriers for targeted delivery of bleomycin

Abstract

Targeted drug delivery has received considerable attention due to its key role in improving therapeutic efficacy and reducing the side effects of anticancer drugs. Bleomycin (BLM) is an anticancer antibiotic with short half-life, low therapeutic and high side effects that limit its clinical applications. This study aims to evaluate the anticancer potential of folate-targeted liposomal bleomycin (FL-BLM) and its free-folate form (L-BLM) on two different cancer cell lines including human cervix carcinoma HeLa, and human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the effect of FL-BLM in induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest was studied by flow cytometry. FL-BLM was prepared by thin film hydration method and folic acid was conjugated to nanoliposomes by post insertion technique. Anticancer activity was evaluated by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of FL-BLM against HeLa cells was significantly increased compared to L-BLM and conventional BLM. Flow cytometry and annexin-V analysis indicated that FL-BLM effectively induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in HeLa cells especially at G2/M phase. In addition, the uptake of FL-BLM by Hela cells was significantly increased as compared to the MCF-7 cells. Overall, our findings indicated that FL-BLM may be promising formulation for targeted drug delivery to folate receptor-positive tumour cells.

Selective heat generation in cancer cells using a combination of 808 nm laser irradiation and the folate-conjugated Fe2O3@Au nanocomplex

“…Table 3 also presents an increase in the peak temperature of KB cells treated by the NPs at the end of 10 min of the PTT operation in comparison to the cells without NPs. FA is an ingredient required for cell proliferation and cancer cells supply this need through overexpression of the FA receptor on their surface [42,43]. The surface functionalization of Fe 2 O 3 @Au NPs with FA thus provides an active targeting strategy that directs the NPs towards the cell surface FA receptor, leading to enhanced uptake and efficient internalization of the NPs via receptor-mediated endocytosis [24,25].…”

NanoMIL-100(Fe) containing docetaxel for breast cancer therapy

“…According to well-known phenomena in tumoural tissues, enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect [30], nanoparticle vehicles with and without targeting agent can be effective solutions to address the cytotoxic drug drawbacks and efficiently deliver the drugs to the tumour cells. Hence, in the recent years, various nanocarriers including hydrogels [31], nanoliposomes [32], activated carbon nanoparticles [33], graphene oxide [34], polymer matrix of nanoparticles using mPEG-PLA-PLL copolymer [35], poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/ hyaluronic acid block copolymer [36] and have been designed and applied for cancer treatments.…”

pH-sensitive metal-phenolic network capsules for targeted photodynamic therapy against cancer cells

“…The target ability of MPN@HMMEs on FR þ cells was determined by CLSM measurements. HeLa (FR þ ), HaCaT (FR À ) or A549 (FR þ ) cells were incubated with 30 lg mL À1 FITClabelled MPN@HMME for 4 h at 37 C [41][42][43]. The cells absorbance circumstances of FITC-labelled capsules were observed by CLSM.…”