Cabazitaxel liposomes with aptamer modification enhance tumor‑targeting efficacy in nude mice

The present study investigated the feasibility of improving the tumor‑targeting efficacy and decreasing the toxicity of liposomal cabazitaxel (Cab) with aptamer modification. The process involved preparing aptamer (TLS1c)‑modified liposomes and studying the behavior of the liposomes in vitro and in vivo. TLS1c as an aptamer, which has high specificity for BNL 1ME A.7R.1 (MEAR) cells, was conjugated with Cab liposomes (Cab/lipo) to enhance MEAR tumor tissue targeting. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that the fluorescence of the liposomes modified with the aptamer was notably stronger compared with that of the unmodified liposomes. Furthermore, the biodistribution data of the modified liposomes tested in tumor‑bearing mice revealed high specificity of biotinylated TLS1c‑modified Cab/lipo (BioTL‑Cab/lipo) for tumor tissues. Furthermore, the modified liposomes demonstrated decreased cytotoxicity and simultaneously retained potent inhibition against tumor growth. It is likely that the specific binding of the aptamer (TLS1c) to the targeted cells (MEAR) facilitates the binding of the liposomes to the targeted cells. Therefore, BioTL‑Cab/lipo may be considered as a promising delivery system to improve cell targeting and reduce drug toxicity in the treatment of cancer.