Original Article
MUC1 aptamer-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery and radio-imaging applications

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2017.08.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a cell surface protein overexpressed in breast cancer. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with safranin O, functionalized with aminopropyl groups and gated with the negatively charged MUC1 aptamer have been prepared (S1-apMUC1) for specific targeting and cargo release in tumoral versus non-tumoral cells. Confocal microscopy studies showed that the S1-apMUC1 nanoparticles were internalized in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells that overexpress MUC1 receptor with subsequent pore opening and cargo release. Interestingly, the MCF-10-A non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell line that do not overexpress MUC1, showed reduced (S1-apMUC1) internalization. Negligible internalization was also found for S1-ap nanoparticles that contained a scrambled DNA sequence as gatekeeper. S2-apMUC1 nanoparticles (similar to S1-apMUC1 but loaded with doxorubicin) internalized in MDA-MB-231 cells and induced a remarkable reduction in cell viability. Moreover, S1-apMUC1 nanoparticles radio-labeled with 99mTc (S1-apMUC1-Tc) showed a remarkable tumor targeting in in vivo studies with MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing Balb/c mice.

Graphical Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with a dye, capped with MUC1 aptamer and radiolabeled with 99mTc are used for tumor imaging in mice.

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Section snippets

Methods

Syntheses of the nanoparticles are detailed in the Supporting Information.

Design and synthesis of aptamer-capped nanoparticles

MSNs were prepared following known procedures.52 The pores of the final calcined MSNs were loaded with safranin O and the external surface of the nanoparticles functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (solid S1). Aminopropyl moieties were positively charged at a neutral pH and they are known to display electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions with negatively charged aptamers. Therefore, the addition of MUC1 aptamer to a suspension of S1 nanoparticles resulted in pore capping,

Discussion

PXRD and TEM of S1 evidenced that the process of loading the pores with safranin O and the functionalization of the external surface with aminopropyl groups did not modify the mesoporous structure. Moreover, adsorption–desorption isotherms of calcined MSNs showed a typical curve for mesoporous silica (see Supporting Information), which consisted in an adsorption step at intermediate P/P0 value (0.1–0.3). Narrow BJH pore distribution and absence of a hysteresis loop within this interval

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    Acknowledgment: Ll. P. is grateful to the Universitat Politècnica de València for his grant. A.G-F. is grateful to the Spanish government for her FPU grant.

    Authors Contributions: LlP prepared and characterized the nanoparticles and collaborated in the imaging and bio‐distribution studies. AG‐F carried out the cell viability, cell uptake and anti‐tumoral studies. BdL. collaborated in the preparation and characterization of the nanoparticles. CC‐C, ESB, MSA and RS‐O carried out the radiolabeling, imaging and bio‐distribution studies. SM prepared and characterized the MUC‐1 aptamer. SM, MO, RMM, RS‐O and FS planned the assays and also written and revised the manuscript.

    Financial support information: Financial support from the Spanish Government and FEDER funds (Project MAT2015-64139-C4-1) and the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEOII/2014/047) is gratefully acknowledged.

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    These authors contributed equally to this work.

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