Targeting glucose uptake with siRNA-based nanomedicine for cancer therapy.

In this study, we report an effective strategy for cancer therapy through targeting glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) with siRNA-based nanomedicine to simultaneously inhibit the self-renewal of glioma stem cells and bulk glioma cells in a glucose restricted tumor micro-environment. We have demonstrated that cationic lipid-assisted poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactide) (PEG-PLA) nanoparticles can efficiently deliver siRNA into U87MG and U251 glioma stem cells and bulk glioma cells. Nanoparticles carrying specific siRNA targeting GLUT3 (NPsiGLUT3) were able to significantly reduce the expression of GLUT3 in glioma stem cells and bulk glioma cells, while GLUT3 knockdown results in obvious cell metabolism and proliferation inhibition, and further glioma stem cells percentage down-regulation. Moreover, systemic delivery of NPsiGLUT3, via intravenous injection, significantly inhibited tumor growth in a U87MG xenograft model, due to the reduced expression of GLUT3 and down-regulated stemness of glioma cells. PMID: 25770992 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Biomaterials - Category: Materials Science Authors: Tags: Biomaterials Source Type: research