Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles
Published on: December 1, 2016
Targeted Nanoparticles Harboring Jasmine-Oil-Entrapped Paclitaxel for Elimination of Lung Cancer Cells
Shira Engelberg1, Yuexi Lin1, Yehuda G Assaraf2
1The Laboratory of Biopolymers for Food and Health, Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.
Abstract:
Selectively targeted drug delivery systems are preferable chemotherapeutic platforms, as they specifically deliver the drug cargo into tumor cells, while minimizing untoward toxic effects. However, these delivery systems suffer from insufficient encapsulation efficiency (EE), encapsulation capacity (EC), and premature drug release. Herein, we coencapsulated paclitaxel (PTX) and Jasmine oil (JO) within PEG-PCL nanoparticles (NPs), with an average diameter < 50 nm, selectively targeted to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, via S15-aptamer (APT) decoration. JO was selected as an "adhesive" oily core to enhance PTX entrapment, as JO and PTX share similar hydrophobicity and terpenoid structure. JO markedly enhanced EE of PTX from 23% to 87.8% and EC from 35 ± 6 to 74 ± 8 µg PTX/mg PEG-PCL. JO also markedly increased the residual amount of PTX after 69 h, from 18.3% to 65%. Moreover, PTX cytotoxicity against human NSCLC A549 cells was significantly enhanced due to the co-encapsulation with JO; the IC50 value for PTX encapsulated within JO-containing APT-NPs was 20-fold lower than that for APT-NPs lacking JO. Remarkably, JO-containing APT-NPs displayed a 6-fold more potent cell-killing, relatively to the free-drug. Collectively, these findings reveal a marked synergistic contribution of JO to the cytotoxic activity of APT-NP-based systems, for targeted PTX delivery against NSCLC, which may be readily applied to various hydrophobic chemotherapeutics.
Insights
Jasmine oil enhances paclitaxel delivery in nanoparticles for non-small cell lung cancer treatment, improving drug loading and potency. This targeted approach offers a promising strategy for chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Targeted drug delivery systems aim to improve chemotherapy efficacy by concentrating drugs in tumor cells.
- Current systems face challenges with low drug encapsulation efficiency, capacity, and premature release.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge requiring innovative treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop S15-aptamer (APT)-decorated PEG-PCL nanoparticles co-encapsulating paclitaxel (PTX) and Jasmine oil (JO) for targeted NSCLC therapy.
- To evaluate the impact of JO on PTX encapsulation efficiency, capacity, and release kinetics.
- To assess the synergistic cytotoxic effect of co-encapsulated PTX and JO on NSCLC cells.
Main Methods:
- Co-encapsulation of PTX and JO within PEG-PCL nanoparticles.
- Decoration of nanoparticles with S15-aptamer for targeted delivery to NSCLC cells.
- Characterization of nanoparticle size, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE), encapsulation capacity (EC), and in vitro drug release.
- Assessment of PTX cytotoxicity against A549 NSCLC cells and comparison with free drug and nanoparticles without JO.
Main Results:
- Jasmine oil significantly enhanced PTX encapsulation efficiency from 23% to 87.8% and capacity from 35 ± 6 to 74 ± 8 µg/mg.
- JO increased the residual PTX amount after 69 h from 18.3% to 65%, indicating reduced premature release.
- Co-encapsulation with JO resulted in a 20-fold lower IC50 for PTX and a 6-fold more potent cell-killing effect against A549 cells compared to PTX without JO.
Conclusions:
- Jasmine oil acts as an effective "adhesive" core, improving PTX loading and stability in targeted nanoparticles.
- The synergistic effect of JO significantly enhances the anti-cancer activity of PTX-loaded nanoparticles against NSCLC.
- This co-delivery strategy holds potential for improving hydrophobic chemotherapeutic efficacy in targeted cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...