Targeted delivery of DOX by transferrin conjugated DSPE-PEG nanoparticles in leukemia therapy

Abstract

In this study, transferrin (Tf) conjugated distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) nanoparticles (DPT) was successfully prepared to deliver doxorubicin (DOX) to improve the chemotherapy efficacy of K562 leukemia cells. The results show that DPT were nanosized and presented spherical shaped particles, and the average particle size is about 80 nm. The DOX encapsulation efficiency of DPT was >70%. These nanoparticles could release DOX in the acid nucleus and facilitate the delivery of DOX after endocytosis. In addition, DPT is more targeted to K562 cancer cells than DSPE-PEG nanoparticles (DP). To be specific, the cytotoxic effect of DPT on cancer cells was significantly higher than that of DP, indicating that the tf modified nanoparticle system has better targeting efficiency. In summary, the results clearly show that the targeting of leukemia cells by the Tf -coupled nanoparticle system may pave the way for successful treatment of leukemia.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Doxorubicin
• leukemia
• nanoparticles
• transferrin

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported financially by the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou [201508020115, 201601010270, 2017010160489, 201704030083, 201907010032, and 201907010037], the Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou [201710010155 and 201806010072], and the Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province [2017A010103009, 2017B020227009, 2015A010101313, 2017A050506011, 2017B090911012, 2018A050506021, 2018A050506019, and 2018A050506040].