title: Design of a multifunctional PLGA nanoparticulate drug delivery system: evaluation of its physicochemical properties and anticancer activity to malignant cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several individual approaches were combined to fabricate a novel nanoparticulate drug delivery system to achieve targeting and anticancer effects in various malignant cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doxorubicin was conjugated to Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), which was formulated into nanoparticle via solvent-diffusion method. The surface of the nanoparticles was subsequently linked with Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide to realize both passive and active targeting functions. The multifunctional nanoparticles were then tested against several malignant cancer cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The conjugation increased loading efficiency of doxorubicin to PLGA nanoparticles (the encapsulation efficiency was over 85%) and alleviated the drug burst release effect substantially. The drug was released from the polymeric matrix in a sustained release manner over a period of 12 days. The resultant nanoparticles were spherically uniform and well-dispersed. The nanoparticle targeting ability was proven through strong affinity to various integrin-expressing cancer cells, and much less affinity to the low integrin expression cancer cells. The nanoparticles also showed high efficacy in inducing apoptosis in specific malignant cancer cell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developed multifunctional nanoparticles hold potential to treat malignant integrin-expressing cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wai-Keung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D009842:Oligopeptides; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid; D004317:Doxorubicin