title: A cell-targeted chemotherapeutic nanomedicine strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) or cancers of oral cavity is one of the most common cancers worldwide with high rate of mortality and morbidity. At present, chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatments; however it often fails to meet the requirements in the clinical therapy. In the present study, we have successfully formulated ligand-decorated cancer-targeted CDDP-loaded PLGA-PEG/NR7 nanoparticles and demonstrated the feasibility of using NR7 peptide for targeted delivery, rapid intracellular uptake, and enhanced cytotoxic effect in receptor-overexpressed OSCC cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nanosized particles were formed and sustained release patterns were observed for PLGA/NR7 nanoparticles. Significantly higher cellular uptake was observed in HN6 OSCC cancer cells and superior anticancer effects are observed from the optimized targeted nanoparticles. Furthermore, Live/Dead assay showed a higher extent of red fluorescence was observed for the cells exposed with PLGA/NR7 than compared with non-targeted PLGA NP. The presence of the NR7-targeting moiety on the surface of PLGA carriers could allow the specific receptor-mediated internalization, enhanced cellular uptake, and higher cell killing potency. Especially, PLGA/NR7 NP exhibited a superior apoptosis effect in HN6 cancer cells with around ~45 % (early and late apoptotic stage) and ~59 % after 24 and 48 h incubation, respectively. It is apparent that the actively targeted micelles will deliver more anticancer agent to cancer cell than non-targeted one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altogether, our results show the feasibility and promise of a cell-targeted anticancer nanomedicine strategy that can be effective for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The present work might be of great importance to the further exploration of the potential application of PLGA/NR7 in the clinically relevant animal models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China. zhiqiwang@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China. liukaibpu@126.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Disease Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China. huozj443@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250031, China. chenxiaoli71@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng, Linqing, 252600, Shandong, China. minwang591@126.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China. liuping195@163.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong Univeristy, 107# Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China. pangbo2233@tom.com.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, Shandong, China. wangsj1501@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shi-Jiang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050997:Nanomedicine; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010455:Peptides; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002945:Cisplatin