Design and evaluation of peptide-18-targeted nanoliposomes constructed by poly(2-oxazoline)-DOPE for doxorubicin delivery

Abstract

Aims

The aim of this study is to develop targeted nanoliposome formulations to provide efficient treatment for breast cancer. In this study, peptide 18-modified poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (P18-PEtOx-DOPE), was synthesised to construct nanoliposomes.

Methods

Doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated into the nanoliposomes by ethanol injection method. Particle size and polydispersity index were measured by dynamic light scattering. Zeta potential was determined by electrophoretic laser Doppler anemometry. The shape of the nanoliposomes was examined by transmission electron microscope. Specific bindings of P18-PEtOx-DOPE nanoliposomes were demonstrated on AU565 cells by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry studies.

Results

DOX-loaded nanoliposomes with particle diameter of 150.00 ± 2.84 nm and PDI of 0.212 ± 0.013 were obtained. PEtOx-DOPE and PEtOx-DOPE nanoliposomes are non-toxic on HUVEC, HEK293 and hMSC cells for 48 h. Furthermore, P18-PEtOx-DOPE nanoliposomes demonstrated specificity towards AU565 cells with high binding affinity.

Conclusions

As a result, DOX-loaded P18-PEtOx-DOPE nanoliposomes can serve as favourable candidates in breast cancer targeted therapy.

Keywords:

• Nanoliposome
• peptide 18
• PEtOx
• targeted therapy
• breast cancer

Acknowledgements

Authors thank Ayla Burcin Asutay for technical support in flow cytometry analysis. Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [TUBITAK, 213M760].