Paclitaxel-loaded phosphonated calixarene nanovesicles as a modular drug delivery platform

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 24:6:23489. doi: 10.1038/srep23489.

Abstract

A modular p-phosphonated calix[4]arene vesicle (PCV) loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and conjugated with folic acid as a cancer targeting ligand has been prepared using a thin film-sonication method. It has a pH-responsive capacity to trigger the release of the encapsulated PTX payload under mildly acidic conditions. PTX-loaded PCV conjugated with alkyne-modified PEG-folic acid ligands prepared via click ligation (fP-PCVPTX) has enhanced potency against folate receptor (FR)-positive SKOV-3 ovarian tumour cells over FR-negative A549 lung tumour cells. Moreover, fP-PCVPTX is also four times more potent than the non-targeting PCVPTX platform towards SKOV-3 cells. Overall, as a delivery platform the PCVs have the potential to enhance efficacy of anticancer drugs by targeting a chemotherapeutic payload specifically to tumours and triggering the release of the encapsulated drug in the vicinity of cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Calixarenes / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Folic Acid / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Calixarenes
  • Folic Acid
  • Paclitaxel