title: Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-F68 hybrid vesicles for folate receptor targeted anti-cancer drug delivery.
abstract: Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS)-F68 hybrid vesicles with an average diameter of 700 nm are produced using a stable solution of heterofunctional POSS having 3-aminopropyl and vinyl groups and pluronic F68 in ethanol-water mixture. Thermogram and zeta potential values evidence the spontaneous self-assembly of POSS into bilayers through H-bonding interaction between the aminopropyl groups, and the effective stabilization of the POSS-bilayers by amphiphilic F68 during solvent-evaporation to form the vesicles. The vesicles are noncytotoxic and dispersible in aqueous solvents through steric stabilization provided by the hydrophilic F68. A highly facile coinclusion method has been used for making doxorubicin and folic acid loaded vesicles. Doxorubicin loaded in the vesicles exhibits a controlled release profile in phosphate buffered saline. Confocal microscopic and flow cytometric studies on the endocytosis of the vesicles by HeLa and HOS cells prove that a noncovalent entrapment of excess folic acid in the vesicles through H-bonding is sufficient to enhance the uptake significantly. POSS-F68 vesicles in combination with folic acid and a chemotherapeutic can have potential for targeted intracellular anti-cancer drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Technologies, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology , Thiruvananthapuram 695012, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Bindu P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Dhanesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaikkath
authors.forename: Prabha D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058972:Folic Acid Transporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D058972:Folic Acid Transporters; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D020442:Poloxamer; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005492:Folic Acid