Biotin conjugated organic molecules and proteins for cancer therapy: A review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biochemistry
• Nanomedicine

Background:

• Sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) is the primary biotin transporter.
• SMVT is significantly overexpressed in aggressive cancer cell lines (ovarian, leukemia, colon, breast, renal, lung) compared to normal tissues.
• This overexpression leads to a higher demand for biotin in rapidly growing tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review biotin-conjugated organic molecules for targeted cancer drug delivery.
• To highlight biotin-mediated cancer theranostic strategies using nanoparticles and polymer-modified drugs.
• To assess the impact of biotin conjugation on drug cytotoxicity and selectivity in cancer cells.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on biotin-conjugated molecules and their application in cancer therapy.
• Analysis of studies reporting SMVT overexpression in various cancer types.
• Examination of nanoparticle and polymer-surface modified drug delivery systems utilizing biotin.

Main Results:

• Biotin-conjugated molecules demonstrate enhanced selective delivery to biotin-positive cancer cells.
• These conjugates exhibit significantly higher cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines compared to normal cells.
• Biotin conjugation improves the overall efficacy and targeting of anti-cancer drugs.

Conclusions:

• Biotin conjugation represents a viable strategy to enhance the efficacy and selectivity of cancer therapeutics.
• Targeting SMVT through biotinylation offers a promising approach for cancer theranostics.
• Further development of biotin-mediated drug delivery systems holds potential for improved cancer treatment outcomes.