Cell membrane inspired nano-shell enabling long-acting Glucose Oxidase for Melanoma starvation therapy via...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapy

Background:

• Glucose oxidase (GOx) shows promise for tumor starvation therapy but suffers from rapid deactivation and side effects in vivo.
• Current limitations hinder the clinical application of GOx for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protective nano-shell for encapsulating GOx to enhance its stability and efficacy for localized melanoma therapy.
• To investigate the use of dissolving microneedles (MNs) for topical delivery of the GOx-loaded nano-system.

Main Methods:

• A polydopamine (PDA)-structured nano-shell was designed to encapsulate GOx, mimicking cell membrane functions for selective transport.
• The nano-encapsulated GOx was integrated into dissolving microneedles for localized delivery to melanoma tissue.
• Stability and catalytic activity of GOx were assessed under various biological conditions and harsh treatments.

Main Results:

• The PDA nano-shell effectively protected GOx, maintaining its catalytic activity for over 6 days in diverse biological environments.
• The nano-system demonstrated resistance to proteinase degradation and harsh pH conditions.
• Microneedle-delivered GOx significantly inhibited melanoma tumor growth through starvation therapy with reduced side effects compared to systemic administration.

Conclusions:

• The developed cell-mimicking nano-system provides an effective platform for in vivo delivery of GOx, overcoming its limitations for enzyme-based therapeutics.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for localized cancer therapy, particularly for melanoma, with improved safety and efficacy.
• The nano-system design has potential applications for other enzyme-based therapeutic strategies.