Cytoplasmic delivery of liposomes into MCF-7 breast cancer cells mediated by cell-specific phage fusion coat protein

Mol Pharm. 2010 Aug 2;7(4):1149-58. doi: 10.1021/mp1000229.

Abstract

Earlier, we have shown that doxorubicin-loaded liposomes (Doxil) modified with a chimeric phage fusion coat protein specific toward MCF-7 breast cancer cells identified from a phage landscape library demonstrated a significantly enhanced association with target cells and an increased cytotoxicity. Based on some structural similarities between the N-terminus of the phage potein and known fusogenic peptides, we hypothesized that, in addition to the specific targeting, the phage protein may possess endosome-escaping potential and an increased cytotoxicity of drug-loaded phage protein-targeted liposomes may be explained by an advantageous combination of both, cell targeting and endosomal escape of drug-loaded nanocarrier. The use of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique allowed us to clearly demonstrate the pH-dependent membrane fusion activity of the phage protein. Endosomal escape and cytosolic delivery of phage-liposomes was visualized with fluorescence microscopy. Endosome acidification inhibition by bafilomycin A 1 resulted in decreased cytotoxicity of the phage-Doxil, while the endosome disruption by chloroquine had a negligible effect on efficacy of phage-Doxil, confirming its endosomal escape. Our results demonstrated an endosome-escaping property of the phage protein and provided an insight on mechanism of the enhanced cytotoxicity of phage-Doxil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry*
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / administration & dosage
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Liposomes
  • Viral Fusion Proteins
  • Doxorubicin