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Selectivity Enhancement of Paclitaxel Liposome Towards Folate Receptor-Positive Tumor Cells by Ligand Number Optimization Approach

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Abstract

The present work aims to develop folate-targeted paclitaxel liposome (F-PTX-LIP), which will selectively target tumor cells overexpressing folate receptor (FR) and leave normal cells. Liposomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method followed by post-insertion of synthesized ligand 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-phosphoethanolamine-polyethyleneglycol 2000-folic acid (DSPE-PEG2000-FA) on the outer surface of the liposome. The synthesized ligand was evaluated for in vivo acute toxicity in Balb/c mice. Developed liposomal formulations were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). We have investigated the effect of ligand number on cell uptake and cytotoxicity by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), competitive inhibition and 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Compared to lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549), uptake in human ovarian carcinoma cells (SKOV3) was 2.2- and 1.2-fold higher for liposome with 480 and 240 ligand number respectively. Competitive inhibition experiment shows that prior incubation of SKOV3 cells with free folic acid significantly reduced the cell uptake of F-PTX-LIP with 480 ligand number (480 F-PTX-LIP) by 2.6-fold. 480 F-PTX-LIP displays higher cytotoxicity than free drug and PTX liposome. Moreover, it specifically targets the cells with higher folate receptor expression. Optimized 480 F-PTX-LIP formulation can be potentially useful for the treatment of folate receptor-positive tumors.

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Abbreviations

FR:

folate receptor

PTX:

paclitaxel

PTX-LIP:

paclitaxel liposome

F-PTX-LIP:

folate-targeted paclitaxel liposome

DSPE-PEG2000:

1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-polyethyleneglycol 2000

DSPE-PEG 2000-FA:

1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-polyethyleneglycol 2000-folic acid

PS:

particle size

PDI:

polydispersity index

ZP:

zeta potential

% EE:

percent drug entrapment efficiency

% DL:

percent drug loading

TEM:

transmission electron microscopy

SANS:

small-angle neutron scattering

DSC:

differential scanning calorimetry

CLSM:

confocal laser scanning microscopy

MTT:

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

F-LIP:

FR-targeted liposomes

NF-LIP:

folate receptor-targeted liposomes with no ligand

b-LIP:

blank liposome

240 F-LIP:

folate receptor-targeted liposomes with 240 ligand per liposome

480 F-LIP:

folate receptor-targeted liposomes with 480 ligand per liposome

240 F-PTX-LIP:

folate receptor-targeted paclitaxel liposomes with 240 ligand per liposome

480 F-PTX-LIP:

folate receptor-targeted paclitaxel liposomes with 480 ligand per liposome

PEG:

polyethylene glycols

SPC:

soya phosphatidylcholine LIPOID S100

DCP:

dihexadecylphosphate

DCC:

dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

NHS:

N-hydroxysuccinimide

TEA:

triethylamine

DLS:

dynamic light scattering

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared

PSD:

position-sensitive detector

RPMI:

Roswell Park Memorial Institute

1H NMR:

proton nuclear magnetic resonance

MFI:

mean fluorescence intensity

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, and Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Mumbai, for providing fellowship. They are also thankful to AICTE-NAFETIC for providing research facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Novel Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, University Under Section 3 of UGC Act – 1956, Elite Status and Center of Excellence – Govt. of Maharashtra, TEQIP Phase III Funded, N. P. Marg, Matunga (E), Mumbai, 400019, India

    Mahendra Kumar Prajapati & Pradeep R. Vavia

  2. Advance Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, 410210, India

    Aniketh Bishnu & Pritha Ray

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  1. Mahendra Kumar Prajapati
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  2. Aniketh Bishnu
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Correspondence to Pradeep R. Vavia.

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Prajapati, M.K., Bishnu, A., Ray, P. et al. Selectivity Enhancement of Paclitaxel Liposome Towards Folate Receptor-Positive Tumor Cells by Ligand Number Optimization Approach. AAPS PharmSciTech 20, 317 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-019-1531-8

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