Folate receptor-targeted liposomes loaded with a diacid metabolite of norcantharidin enhance antitumor potency for H22 hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo.
The diacid metabolite of norcantharidin (DM-NCTD) is clinically effective against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but is limited by its short half-life and high incidence of adverse effects at high doses. We developed a DM-NCTD-loaded, folic acid (FA)-modified, polyethylene glycolated (DM-NCTD/FA-PEG) liposome system to enhance the targeting effect and antitumor potency for HCC at a moderate dose based on our previous study. The DM-NCTD/FA-PEG liposome system produced liposomes with regular spherical morphology, with mean particle size approximately 200 nm, and an encapsulation efficiency >80%. MTT cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that the DM-NCTD/FA-PEG liposomes showed significantly stronger cytotoxicity effects on the H22 hepatoma cell line than did PEG liposomes without the FA modification (P<0.01). We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for determination of DM-NCTD in tissues and tumors, and found it to be sensitive, rapid, and reliable. In addition, the biodistribution study showed that DM-NCTD liposomes improved tumor-targeting efficiency, and DM-NCTD/FA-PEG liposomes exhibited the highest efficiency of the treatments (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the results indicated that although the active liposome group had an apparently increased tumor-targeting efficiency of DM-NCTD, the risk to the kidney was higher than in the normal liposome group. With regard to in vivo antitumor activity, DM-NCTD/FA-PEG liposomes inhibited tumors in H22 tumor-bearing mice better than either free DM-NCTD or DM-NCTD/PEG liposomes (P<0.01), and induced considerably more significant cellular apoptosis in the tumors, with no obvious toxicity to the tissues of model mice or the liver tissue of normal mice, as shown by histopathological examination. All these results demonstrate that DM-NCTD-loaded FA-modified liposomes might have potential application for HCC-targeting therapy.
Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Min-Chen
MC
Liu
Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Lin
L
Liu
Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Xia-Rong
XR
Wang
First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Wu-Ping
WP
Shuai
Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College, Ningbo, People's Republic of China.
Ying
Y
Hu
Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Min
M
Han
Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Jian-Qing
JQ
Gao
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D058975:Folate Receptor 1; D008081:Liposomes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C069741:norcantharidin; D005492:Folic Acid
PEGylated liposome; active targeting; diacid metabolite of norcantharidin; hepatic cancer