Novel β-1,3-d-glucan porous microcapsule enveloped folate-functionalized liposomes as a Trojan horse for facilitated oral tumor-targeted co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and quantum dots

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Mar 18;8(11):2307-2320. doi: 10.1039/c9tb02674f.

Abstract

In this study, a new type of β-1,3-d-glucan porous microcapsule (GPM)-enveloped and folate conjugated chitosan-functional liposome (FCL), FCL@GPM, was developed for the potential oral co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and quantum dots (QDs) with facilitated drug absorption and antitumor efficacy. In this dual-particulate system, multiple FCLs serve as the cores for effective loading, folate-mediated tumor-targeting, facilitated intracellular accumulation, and pH-responsive controlled release of chemotherapeutic agents, while a GPM acts as the shell for affording macrophage-mediated tumor selectivity. Gefitinib (GEF) was selected as a chemotherapeutic agent, while acid degradable ZnO QDs were selected due to their dual role as an anticancer agent for synergistic chemotherapy and as a fluorescent probe for potential cancer cellular imaging. The GEF and ZnO QD co-loaded FCL@GPMs (GEF/ZnO-FCL@GPMs) exhibited a prolonged release manner with limited release before uptake by intestinal cells. Furthermore, Peyer's patch uptake, macrophage uptake, cytotoxicity, and biodistribution of FCL@GPMs were tested. In addition, GEF and ZnO QD co-loaded FCLs (GEF/ZnO-FCLs) not only have a tumor acidity responsive release property, but also induce a superior cytotoxicity on cancer cells as compared to GEF. Moreover, a 1.75-fold increase in the bioavailability of GEF delivered from GEF/ZnO-FCL@GPMs as compared to its trademarked drug (Iressa®). As a result, GEF/ZnO-FCL@GPMs exerted a superior antitumor efficacy (1.47-fold) as compared to the trademarked drug in mice. Considered together, the developed FCL@GPMs, combining the unique physicochemical and biological benefits of FCLs and GPMs, possess great potential as an efficient delivery system for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and quantum dots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Drug Compounding / methods
  • Drug Liberation
  • Drug Synergism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / chemistry*
  • Gefitinib / administration & dosage
  • Gefitinib / chemistry*
  • Gefitinib / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mouth Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Porosity
  • Proteoglycans / chemistry*
  • Quantum Dots / chemistry*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Liposomes
  • Proteoglycans
  • polysaccharide-K
  • Chitosan
  • Folic Acid
  • Gefitinib
  • Zinc Oxide