title: Targeting tumor cells through chitosan-folate modified microcapsules loaded with camptothecin.
abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol) microcapsules have been tailored as carriers to deliver camptothecin, an anticancer drug poorly soluble in water. The capsules have been reacted with a chitosan--folate complex in order to selectively target cancer cells overexpressing the folic acid receptor. Microcapsules decorated with the chitosan--folate complex have been characterized in their uptake and release of camptothecin, following the absorption band at λ = 370 nm diagnostic of the drug molecule. The selectivity of chitosan-folate microcapsules in targeting cancer cells has been demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy using HeLa cells, overexpressing the folate receptor and NIH3t3 fibroblasts as a negative control. The chitosan--folate microcapsules loaded with camptothecin significantly reduce the proliferation of HeLa tumor cells, while they have a negligible effect on fibroblasts. This work demonstrates that the chitosan--folate microcapsules represent a promising system to selectively target hydrophobic drugs, such as camptothecin, to tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tabolacci
authors.forename: Blasco
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morozzo Della Rocca
authors.forename: Palma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beninati
authors.forename: Gaio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paradossi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desideri
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004337:Drug Carriers; D048271:Chitosan; D005492:Folic Acid; D002166:Camptothecin