Enhanced selective cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of epidermal growth factor-conjugated liposomes containing curcumin on EGFR-overexpressed pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most malignant cancers with a high mortality rate. Some types of pancreatic cancer cells overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is a potential target for anticancer agents. In this study, we examined the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-conjugated liposomes containing curcumin (EGF-LP-Cur) on three different EGFR-expressed human pancreatic cancer cell lines, BxPC-3, Panc-1 and Mia Paca-2. We have demonstrated that it is feasible to prepare liposomal vesicles of EGF-LP-Cur and that it is stable in the liquid vehicle at ambient conditions for three weeks. In addition, the formulation of curcumin had higher cytotoxicity on BxPC-3 than on any other cells. It is also shown that the cellular uptake of curcumin on BxPC-3, which is essential for the cytotoxicity, is associated with EGFR-mediated mechanism of action. In summary, our results have showed that targeting EGFR with EGF-conjugated curcumin liposomes enhanced the antitumor activity of curcumin against human pancreatic cancer cells.

Keywords:

• Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
• epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
• curcumin liposomes
• pancreatic cancer
• EGF-conjugated curcumin liposomes
• cytotoxicity

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the former PharmD students, Dung Ngo, Tramy Nguyen, QuynhTram Nguyen and Jenny Ton, for their assistance in collecting data. We thank Mr. Michael Eisenback (University of Louisville, School of Medicine) for assisting us in characterising the liposomes. We appreciate Dr. Art Cox for proofreading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Authors have no conflict of interest and nothing to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the grant RG-I-PS-2014–04 and RG-I-PS-2017–05, from Sullivan University College of Pharmacy.