Targeted delivery of mitomycin C-loaded and LDL-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for inhibiting the proliferation of pterygium subconjunctival fibroblasts.

In this study, we designed and synthesized MMC-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles conjugated with LDL (MMC@MSNs-LDL) to deliver MMC into activated pterygium fibroblasts in a targeted manner. The MMC loading efficiency was approximately 6%. The cell viability test (CCK-8 assay) revealed no cytotoxicity for the empty carrier MSNs at a concentration of ≤1 mg/ml after administration for 48 h in subconjunctival fibroblasts. Primary pterygium and normal human subconjunctival fibroblasts with or without stimulation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were treated as follows: 1) 10 μg/ml MMC@MSNs-LDL for 24 h (MMC concentration: 0.6 μg/ml); 2) 0.2 mg/ml MMC for 5 min then cultured for 24 h after MMC removal; and 3) normal culture without any drug treatment. At 24 h, the anti-proliferative effect of MMC@MSNs-LDL in activated pterygium fibroblasts was similar to that of MMC (cell viability: 46.2 ± 5.5% vs 40.5 ± 1.1%, respectively, P = 0.349). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of MMC@MSNs-LDL to normal fibroblasts with or without VEGF stimulation was significantly lower than that of traditional MMC (cell viability: 75.6 ± 4.4% vs 36.0 ± 1.5%, respectively, P < 0.001; 84.7 ± 5.5% vs 35.7 ± 1.3%, P < 0.001). The binding of fluorescently labeled MMC@MSNs-LDL in fibroblasts was assessed using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The uptake of targeted nanoparticles in fibroblasts was time dependent and saturated at...
Source: Experimental Eye Research - Category: Opthalmology Authors: Tags: Exp Eye Res Source Type: research