Synergistic dual-modified liposome improves targeting and therapeutic efficacy of bone metastasis from breast cancer

• Main Authors: Xianzhu Ke, Wen Lin, Xiaokang Li, Hailiang Wang, Xin Xiao, Zheng Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-01-01
• Series: Drug Delivery
• Subjects: bone metastasis; asp8 peptide; folate; bone targeting; dual-modified liposomes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2017.1396384

Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to bone, where it leads to poor clinical prognosis. Due to the peculiarity of the bone microstructure, the uptake of drugs often happens at non-targeted sites, which produces a similar cytotoxicity in both cancerous and healthy cells. In this study, a rational strategy was implemented to take advantage of a combination of both an octapeptide with eight repeating sequences of aspartate (Asp8) and folate to create a more selective and efficient drug delivery system to target cancer cells in bone tissue. Asp8 and folate were conjugated to the distal ends of DSPE-PEG2000-maleimide and DSPE-PEG2000-amine to create DSPE-PEG2000-Asp8 and DSPE-PEG2000-Folate, respectively, which were incorporated onto the surface of a doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded liposomes (A/F-LS). Asp8, similar to the hydroxyapatite-binding domains of osteopontin and osteocalcin, has been used as bone-targeting moieties for exclusive delivery of drugs to bone. The folate moiety binds selectively to folate receptor-positive tumors. The dual-targeting effects were evaluated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. By taking advantages of dual-targeting drug delivery, the dual-modified liposomal drug system could relieve pain and improve survival. Inspired by its enhanced therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity, DOX-loaded A/F-LS could serve as an effective drug system for targeted therapy of bone metastases.