Functionalized nanoscale oil bodies for targeted delivery of a hydrophobic drug

Nanotechnology. 2011 Oct 14;22(41):415102. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/41/415102. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Abstract

Effective formulations of hydrophobic drugs for cancer therapies are challenging. To address this issue, we have sought to nanoscale artificial oil bodies (NOBs) as an alternative. NOBs are lipid-based particles which consist of a central oil space surrounded by a monolayer of oleosin (Ole)-embedded phospholipids (PLs). Ole was first fused with the anti-HER2/neu affibody (Ole-ZH2), and the resulting hybrid protein was overproduced in Escherichia coli. ZH2-displayed NOBs were then assembled by sonicating the mixture containing plant oil, PLs, and isolated Ole-ZH2 in one step. To illustrate their usefulness, functionalized NOBs were employed to encapsulate a hydrophobic anticancer drug, Camptothecin (CPT). As a result, these CPT-loaded NOBs remained stable in serum and the release of CPT at the non-permissive condition exhibited a sustained and prolonged profile. Moreover, plain NOBs were biocompatible whereas CPT-loaded NOBs exerted a strong cytotoxic effect on HER2/neu-positive cells in vitro. Administration of xenograft nude mice with CPT-loaded NOBs also led to the regression of solid tumors in an effective way. Overall, the result indicates the potential of NOBs for targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage*
  • Camptothecin / pharmacology
  • Camptothecin / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Phospholipids / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Plants / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Phospholipids
  • Plant Oils
  • Plant Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Camptothecin