An investigation of the effects of nanosize delivery system for antisense oligonucleotide on esophageal squamous cancer cells

Abstract

In vitro studies, the efficacy of polyethylenimine(PEI) coupled ASODNs nanoparticles (PEI/ASODN) was compared with that of traditional (non-coupling) ASODNs delivery system against hTERT in esophageal squamous cancer cells (EC9706). The result showed that PEI/ASODN uptake by EC9706 cells was significantly higher than ASODN; the growth rate of EC9706 cells transfected with nanoparticles for PEI/ASODN was significantly lower than that with ASODN. Nanoparticles for PEI/ASODN, but not ASODN, abrogated the expression of hTERT mRNA and protein, and also induced apoptosis in EC9706 cells. In vivo studies, the efficacy of nanoparticles for PEI/ASODN with and without NGR(PEI/ASODN or NGR/PEI/ASODN) targeting peptide for tumor blood vessel was compared in BALB/C nude mice. Nanoparticles for NGR/PEI/ASODN dramatically inhibited the growth of tumor and induced more cells apoptosis compared with Nanoparticles for PEI/ASODN (p