title: Folic acid-tagged protein nanoemulsions loaded with CORM-2 enhance the survival of mice bearing subcutaneous A20 lymphoma tumors.
abstract: Folic Acid (FA)-tagged protein nanoemulsions were found to be preferentially internalized on B-cell lymphoma cell line (A20 cell line), which, for the first time, is reported to express folate receptor (FR)-alpha. Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) was incorporated in the oil phase of the initial formulation. FA-functionalized nanoemulsions loaded with CORM-2 exhibited a considerable antitumor effect and an increased survival of BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous A20 lymphoma tumors. The developed nanoemulsions also demonstrated to be well tolerated by these immunocompetent mice. Thus, the results obtained in this study demonstrate that FA-tagged protein nanoemulsions can be successfully used in cancer therapy, with the important ability to delivery drugs intracellularly.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In this research, the authors developed folic acid tagged nanoemulsions containing a carbon monoxide releasing protein molecule for targeted cancer cell treatment. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments showed efficacy against B-cell lymphoma cells. The same nanocarrier platform could be applied to other tumor cells expressing folate receptors on the cell surface.
authors: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Loureiro
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: gb453@cam.ac.uk.
authors: Gonçalo J L
authors: GJ
authors: Bernardes
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors: Ulyana
authors: U
authors: Shimanovich
authors: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Marisa P
authors: MP
authors: Sárria
authors: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Eugénia
authors: E
authors: Nogueira
authors: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Preto
authors: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Andreia C
authors: AC
authors: Gomes
authors: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: artur@deb.uminho.pt.
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Cavaco-Paulo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C447082:tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: CORM-2; Folic acid; Protein nanoemulsions; Specific uptake; Targeted drug delivery