Issue 36, 2017, Issue in Progress

EGF-targeting lipodisks for specific delivery of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents to tumour cells

Abstract

Concerns regarding poor aqueous solubility, high toxicity and lack of specificity impede the translation of many hydrophobic anticancer agents into safe and effective anticancer drugs. The application of colloidal drug delivery systems, and in particular the use of lipid-based nanocarriers, has been identified as a promising means to overcome these issues. PEG-stabilized lipid nanodisks (lipodisks) have lately emerged as a novel type of biocompatible, nontoxic and adaptable drug nanocarrier. In this study we have explored the potential of lipodisks as a platform for formulation and tumour targeted delivery of hydrophobic anticancer agents. Using curcumin as a model compound, we show that lipodisks can be loaded with substantial amounts of hydrophobic drugs (curcumin/lipid molar ratio 0.15). We demonstrate moreover that by deliberate choice of preparation protocols the lipodisks can be provided with relevant amounts of targeting proteins, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF). Data from in vitro cell studies verify that such EGF-decorated curcumin-loaded lipodisks are capable of EGF-receptor specific targeting of human A-431 tumour cells, and strongly suggest that the interaction between the lipodisks and the tumour cells results in receptor-mediated internalization of the disks and their cargo.

Graphical abstract: EGF-targeting lipodisks for specific delivery of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents to tumour cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Apr 2017
Accepted
12 Apr 2017
First published
20 Apr 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 22178-22186

EGF-targeting lipodisks for specific delivery of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents to tumour cells

S. Ahlgren, A. Fondell, L. Gedda and K. Edwards, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 22178 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA04059H

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