Pharmaceutics (Apr 2022)

Selective Anticancer Therapy Based on a HA-CD44 Interaction Inhibitor Loaded on Polymeric Nanoparticles

  • José M. Espejo-Román,
  • Belén Rubio-Ruiz,
  • Victoria Cano-Cortés,
  • Olga Cruz-López,
  • Saúl Gonzalez-Resines,
  • Carmen Domene,
  • Ana Conejo-García,
  • Rosario M. Sánchez-Martín

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14040788
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 4
p. 788

Abstract

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Hyaluronic acid (HA), through its interactions with the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), acts as a potent modulator of the tumor microenvironment, creating a wide range of extracellular stimuli for tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. An innovative antitumor treatment strategy based on the development of a nanodevice for selective release of an inhibitor of the HA-CD44 interaction is presented. Computational analysis was performed to evaluate the interaction of the designed tetrahydroisoquinoline-ketone derivative (JE22) with CD44 binding site. Cell viability, efficiency, and selectivity of drug release under acidic conditions together with CD44 binding capacity, effect on cell migration, and apoptotic activity were successfully evaluated. Remarkably, the conjugation of this CD44 inhibitor to the nanodevice generated a reduction of the dosis required to achieve a significant therapeutic effect.

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