New approaches to tumor therapy with siRNA-decorated and chitosan-modified PLGA nanoparticles

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to develop a candidate modifited polymeric nanoparticle (NP) system that will kill cancer cells by facilitated to apoptosis and also reduce pain.

Significance: The primary goal of treatment, especially for metastatic cancers, is to control the growth of the cancer and to alleviate the symptoms. Pain is one of the commonest symptoms of cancer. In cancer treatment, directing cancer cells to death while simultaneously relieving pain will be a new approach.

Methods: Chitosan-modified PLGA NPs were prepared using an nanoprecipitation technique. The NPs were loaded with flurbiprofen and decorated with folic acid. STAT3-siRNA was adsorbed to these polymeric NPs using antisense technology.

Results: The NPs were small in size (176.9–220.3 nm) with positive zeta potential (+14.1 mV to +27.2 mV). They had high loading capacity and prolonged release properties over 144 hours. Cytotoxicity studies performed with siRNA showed effective electrostatic interaction due to the positively charged NPs. Folic acid facilitated entry into cancer cells and helped to kill them.

Conclusion: The formulation we developed is a potential carrier system for both treatment of cancer and prevention of pain, especially for metastatic cancers.

Keywords:

• STAT3 siRNA
• flurbiprofen
• PLGA nanoparticles
• folic acid
• chitosan

Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate to Associate Professor Mustafa YILDIZ for the 1H-NMR and FTIR analyses from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. We would like to thank to Associate Professor Gülay Büyükköroğlu for her valuable scientific contribution.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.