Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles as a targeted drug delivery system for melanoma treatment

Abstract

Aiming to target vitamin D receptors (VDR) expressed in melanoma cells, vitamin D₃ functionalized hybrid lipid-polymer nanoparticles (HNP-VDs) comprising a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core and a lipid shell composed of hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC), cholesterol (CHOL) and 1,2-disteroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphaethanolamine-N[succinyl(polyethyleneglycol)-2000 (DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀) were synthesized. The nanocarriers were optimized to a lipid surface area coverage of 97%. In vitro drug release studies showed an initial burst release in the first 24 h followed by diffusive transport. Finally, cellular uptake experiments demonstrated that the HNP-VDs efficiently targeted B16 melanoma cells, thus resulting in a promising vehicle to deliver therapeutics for the melanoma treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Controlled release
• drug delivery systems
• lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles
• melanoma
• vitamin D receptor

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the Science without Borders Scholarship.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.