Targeting lung cancer cells with MUC1 aptamer-functionalized PLA-PEG nanocarriers

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-03, Vol.12 (1), p.4718-4718, Article 4718
• Main Authors: Shahrad, Shima, Rajabi, Mohammad, Javadi, Hamidreza, Karimi Zarchi, Ali Akbar, Darvishi, Mohammad Hasan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/61; 631/67; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Aptamers; Cell death; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytotoxicity; Doxorubicin; Doxorubicin - therapeutic use; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Flow cytometry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Mucin-1; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Polyesters - chemistry; Polyethylene glycol; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polymers; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08759-z

MUC1 aptamer-functionalized PLA-PEG nanocarriers at various w/w ratios (polymer to doxorubicin weight ratio) were prepared by a double emulsion method. Physiochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading content (LC) and in vitro release kinetics of DOX were assessed. Furthermore, cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of prepared PLA-PEG-Apt/DOX NPs at w/w ratio 10:1 were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry against MUC1-overexpressing A-549 cell line. Targeted nanocarriers (PLA-PEG-Apt/DOX NPs at w/w ratio 10:1) induced higher apoptosis rate (36.3 ± 3.44%) for 24 h in MUC1 positive A-549 cancer cells in compare to non-targeted form (PLA-PEG/DOX NPs at w/w ratio 10:1, 11.37 ± 1.65%) and free DOX (4.35 ± 0.81%). In other word, the percentage of cell death in A-549 lung cancer cells treated with PLA-PEG-Apt/DOX NPs at w/w ratio 10:1 is 3.19 and 8.34 fold higher than in non-targeted form and Free DOX treated cancer cells, respectively. Therefore, PLA-PEG-Apt/DOX NPs might be considered a promising drug delivery system for targeted drug delivery towards MUC1-overexpressing tumors cells.