title: Cancer-cell-targeted theranostic cubosomes.
abstract: This work was devoted to the development of a new type of lipid-based (cubosome) theranostic nanoparticle able to simultaneously host camptothecin, a potent anticancer drug, and a squarain-based NIR-emitting fluorescent probe. Furthermore, to confer targeting abilities on these nanoparticles, they were dispersed using mixtures of Pluronic F108 and folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 in appropriate ratios. The physicochemical characterization, performed via SAXS, DLS, and cryo-TEM techniques, proved that aqueous dispersions of such cubosomes can be effectively prepared, while the photophysical characterization demonstrated that these nanoparticles may be used for in vivo imaging purposes. The superior ability of these innovative nanoparticles in targeting cancer cells was emphasized by investigating the lipid droplet alterations induced in HeLa cells upon exposure to targeted and nontargeted cubosomes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche and ‡Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Cagliari , s.s. 554 bivio Sestu, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.forename: Angela Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Falchi
authors.forename: Sandrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lampis
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monduzzi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prodi
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sgarzi
authors.forename: Yeshayahu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Talmon
authors.forename: Ranieri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bizzarri
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murgia
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020442:Poloxamer; D005492:Folic Acid