Folate-Decorated Amphiphilic Cyclodextrins as Cell-Targeted Nanophototherapeutics
作者:Roberto Zagami、Valentina Rapozzi、Anna Piperno、Angela Scala、Claudia Triolo、Mariachiara Trapani、Luigi E. Xodo、Luigi Monsù Scolaro、Antonino Mazzaglia
DOI:10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00306
日期:2019.7.8
Nowadays, active targeting of nanotherapeutics is a challenging issue. Here, we propose a rational design of a ternary nanoassembly (SAP) composed of nonionic amphiphilic β-cyclodextrins (amphiphilic CD) incorporating pheophorbide (Pheo) as a phototherapeutic and an adamantanyl-folic acid conjugate (Ada-FA) to target tumor cells overexpressing α-folate receptor (FR-α(+)). Dynamic light scattering and ζ-potential pointed out the presence of nanoassemblies bearing a negative surface charge (ζ = −51 mV). Morphology of SAP was investigated by atomic force microscopy and microphotoluminescence, indicating the presence of highly emissive near-spherical assemblies of about 280 nm in size. Complementary spectroscopic techniques such as ROESY-NMR, UV/vis and steady-state fluorescence revealed that the folic acid protrudes out of amphiphilic CD rims, prone for recognition with FR-α. Pheo was strongly loaded in the nanoassembly mostly in monomeric form, thus generating singlet oxygen (1O2) and consequentely showing phototherapeutic action. SAP remained stable until 2 weeks in aqueous solutions. Stability studies in biologically relevant media pointed out the ability of SAP to interact with serum proteins by means of the oligoethylenglycole fringe, without destabilization. Release experiments demonstrated the sustained release of Pheo from SAP in environments mimiking physiological conditions (∼20% within 1 week), plausibly suggesting low Pheo leaking and high integrity of the assembly within 24 h, time spent on average to reach the target sites. Cellular uptake of SAP was confirmed by confocal microscopy, pointing out that SAP was internalized into the tumoral cells expressing FR-α more efficiently than SP. SAP showed improved phototoxicity in human breast MCF-7 cancer cells FR-α(+) (IC50 = 270 nM) with respect to human prostate carcinoma PC3 cells (IC50 = 700 nM) that express a low level of that receptor (FR-α(−)). Finally, an improved phototoxicity in FR-α(+) MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 270 nM) was assessed after treatment with SAP vs SP (IC50 = 600 nM) which was designed without Ada-FA as a targeting unit.
如今,主动靶向纳米治疗药物是一个具有挑战性的问题。在这里,我们提出了一个合理设计的由非离子型双亲性β-环糊精(双亲性CD)组成的三分子纳米组装体(SAP),其中包含了pheophorbide(Pheo)作为光治疗剂和adamantanyl-叶酸偶联物(Ada-FA),旨在靶向过度表达α-叶酸受体(FR-α(+))的肿瘤细胞。动态光散射和ζ电位指出存在具有负表面电荷的纳米组装体(ζ = −51 mV)。通过原子力显微镜和微光致发光研究,表明存在大约280 nm大小的近球形高发光组装体。互补光谱技术如ROESY-NMR、紫外/可见光谱和稳态荧光揭示了叶酸突出于双亲性CD边缘,易于与FR-α识别。Pheo在纳米组装体中强烈负载,主要以单体形式存在,因此产生单线态氧(1O2),从而显示出光治疗作用。SAP在水溶液中保持稳定直至两周。在生物相关介质中的稳定性研究表明,SAP能够通过聚乙二醇边缘与血清蛋白相互作用,但不会导致不稳定。释放实验表明,在模拟生理条件的介质中,Pheo从SAP中持续释放(一周内约20%),可能暗示在24小时内Pheo泄漏较少,组装体完整性较高,这是到达目标位点的平均时间。通过共聚焦显微镜确认了SAP的细胞摄取,指出SAP在表达FR-α的肿瘤细胞中比SP更有效地被内化。与表达该受体水平较低的人前列腺癌PC3细胞(IC50 = 700 nM)相比,SAP在人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞FR-α(+)中显示出增强的光毒性(IC50 = 270 nM)。最后,在FR-α(+) MCF-7细胞中评估了SAP与SP相比在光毒性方面的改善(IC50 = 270 nM vs IC50 = 600 nM),后者设计时未包含Ada-FA作为靶向单元。