Enhancement of the cytotoxicity and selectivity of doxorubicin to hepatoma cells by synergistic combination of galactose-decorated γ-poly(glutamic acid) nanoparticles and low-intensity ultrasound

Langmuir. 2014 May 20;30(19):5510-7. doi: 10.1021/la500352g. Epub 2014 May 5.

Abstract

Specific drug delivery to solid tumors remains one of the challenges in cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to combine three drug-targeting strategies, polymer-drug conjugate, ligand presentation and ultrasound treatment, to enhance the efficacy and selectivity of doxorubicin (DXR) to hepatoma cells. The conjugation of DXR to γ-poly(glutamic acids) (γ-PGA) decreased the cytotoxicity of DXR, while the conjugation of galactosamine (Gal) to the γ-PGA-DXR conjugate restored the cytotoxic efficacy of DXR on hepatoma cells due to increased uptake of DXR. Furthermore, low-intensity ultrasound treatment increased the cell-killing ability of γ-PGA-DXR conjugates by 20%. The in vitro results showed the potential of the γ-PGA-DXR-Gal conjugate for future clinical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Galactose / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Ultrasonics*

Substances

  • Doxorubicin
  • Galactose