Epidermal growth factor (EGF) fragment-guided anticancer theranostic particles for pH-responsive release of doxorubicin

Publication date: 15 March 2017 Source:International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 519, Issues 1–2 Author(s): Myun Koo Kang, Wei Mao, Jun Bae Lee, Hyuk Sang Yoo EGF fragment (EGFfr) and doxorubicin were chemically co-decorated on single magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for concomitant cancer targeting and treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by the precipitation of ferric chloride hydrates in an ammonia solution and subsequent surface-functionalization with amines. The terminal thiol group of the EGF fragment was first conjugated to surface amines of the MNPs using a heterofunctional crosslinker, and doxorubicin was sequentially conjugated to the MNPs via a hydrazone linker, where the degree of subsitution of the surface amines to EGFfr was varied from 1% to 40%. The decorated doxorubicin showed clear pH-dependency in the release profile, and doxorubicin showed fast release at pH 5.0 in comparison to pH 7.4. The EGF-decorated MNPs were tested for differential cellular uptakes against EGF overexpressing cells (A549), and the uptake levels gradually increased to 10% and saturated, which was quantified by ICP-OES. Internalized doxorubicin was also visualized by confocal microscopy, and A549 cells with EGF-decorated MNPs with EGF decoration showed higher fluorescence intensity of doxorubicin than those with non-decorated MNPs. Anti-cancer activity of the MNPs was compared at various concentrations of doxorubicin and EGFfr. Decoration of EGFfr significantly incr...
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research