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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Perlecan-targeted nanoparticles for drug delivery to triple-negative breast cancer
Vidhi Khanna1, Stephen Kalscheuer1, Ameya Kirtane1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Aim:
We previously developed two antibodies that bind to a cell surface protein, perlecan, overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The goal of this study was to investigate these antibodies as targeting ligands for nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery.
Methods:
Paclitaxel-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles were functionalized with antibodies using thiol-maleimide chemistry. Effect of antibody functionalization on therapeutic efficacy of drug-loaded nanoparticles was investigated using in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC.
Results:
The antibodies were covalently conjugated to nanoparticles without affecting antibody binding affinity or nanoparticle properties. Perlecan-targeted nanoparticles showed improved cell uptake, retention, cytotoxicity in vitro and enhanced tumor growth inhibition in vivo.
Conclusion:
The data presented here indicates that perlecan-targeted nanoparticles can improve tumor drug delivery to TNBC.
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