International Journal of Nanomedicine (Nov 2019)
Co-Administration Of iRGD Enhances Tumor-Targeted Delivery And Anti-Tumor Effects Of Paclitaxel-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles For Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Abstract
Yi Zhong,1,* Tao Su,1,* Qiuxiao Shi,1 Yanru Feng,1 Ze Tao,1 Qiuxia Huang,1 Lan Li,1 Liqiang Hu,1 Shengfu Li,1 Hong Tan,2 Shan Liu,3 Hao Yang1 1Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, West China-Washington Mitochondria and Metabolism Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Surgery, Chengdu Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Hospital (Chengdu First People’s Hospital), Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shan LiuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, No. 32, West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 28 6138 2518Email [email protected] YangKey Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, West China Hospital, No. 1, Keyuan 4th Road, Hi-tech Zone, Chengdu 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 28 85164031Email [email protected]: Nanoparticles exhibit great promise for improving the solubility and tissue-specific distribution of chemotherapeutic agents; however, the passive and highly variable enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects observed in tumors frequently leads to insufficient delivery of nanodrugs into tumors. The tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD can actively enhance tumor-selective delivery of nanoparticles into tumors by binding to integrin and interacting with tissue-penetrating receptor neuropilin-1.Materials and methods: To improve colorectal cancer treatment, in this study, we prepared a paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded PLGA nanoparticle (PLGA-PTX) and evaluated its tumor-targeting and antitumor activity by co-administration with iRGD.Results: Compared to free PTX, encapsulated PTX retained preferential cytotoxicity toward various colorectal cancer cells while effectively sparing healthy cells. PLGA-PTX treatment resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis, leading to inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion. PLGA-PTX combined with iRGD displayed little enhancement of cytotoxicity in vitro. Despite this, iRGD receptors integrin and neuropilin-1 were found to be primarily overexpressed on abundant tumor vessels in mice bearing colorectal tumors. Consequently, co-administration of nanoparticles with iRGD promoted the selective delivery of nanoparticles into tumor tissues in vivo. Additionally, the combined regimen enhanced the antitumor effects compared to those of each individual reagent.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PLGA nanoparticles combined with the iRGD peptide provide a promising drug delivery strategy for facilitating active drug accumulation into tumors, given that iRGD receptors are overexpressed on tumor vessels. This co-administration system lacking covalent conjugation provides a more convenient means to combine various therapeutic agents with iRGD to achieve personalized nanotherapy.Keywords: tumor penetrating peptide, nanoparticle, iRGD, paclitaxel, tumor vasculature, colorectal cancer
