title: Maytansine-loaded star-shaped folate-core PLA-TPGS nanoparticles enhancing anticancer activity.
abstract: The efficient delivery of therapeutic molecule agents into target cells of interest is a critical challenge to broad application of non-viral vector systems. In this research, maytansine-loaded star-shaped folate-core polylactide-D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (FA-PLA-TPGS) block copolymer was applied to be a vector of maytansine for folate receptor positive (FR(+)) breast cancer therapy. The uptake of maytansine nanoparticles by SKBR3 cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cell viability of maytansine-NPs in SKBR3 cells was assessed according to the changed level of intracellular microtubules and apoptosis-associated proteins. The cytotoxicity of the SKBR3 cells was significantly increased by maytansine-NPs when compared with control groups. In conclusion, the maytansine-NPs offer a considerable potential formulation for FR-expressing tumor targeting biotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Stem cell Engineering Research Center, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, P.R. China ; The State Key Laboratory of Virology, Life Sciences College, Wuhan University Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Medical College, Hunan Normal University Changsha 410006, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Stem cell Engineering Research Center, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, P.R. China ; The State Key Laboratory of Virology, Life Sciences College, Wuhan University Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Stem cell Engineering Research Center, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Stem cell Engineering Research Center, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rongbo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Stem cell Engineering Research Center, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rengbiao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Deqiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Maytansine; chemotherapy; folate; nanomedicine; targeted delivery