Smart delivery of epirubicin to cancer cells using aptamer-modified ferritin nanoparticles

Epirubicin (Epi) is a chemotherapy agent which is commonly used in treatment of cancers. However, despite being efficient, the tendency to use this drug is declining mostly due to its myocardiopathy and drug-resistance of tumour cells. Such side effects could be prevented using targeted nanocarriers. This study aims to evaluate targeted delivery of Epi to colon cancer cells using ferritin nanoparticles (Ft NPs) and mucin 1 (MUC1) aptamer (Apt) and formation of Apt-Epi Ft NPs. In the current study, Apt-Epi Ft NPs were prepared. Then, physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, including size and zeta potential, morphology, drug loading, drug release from nanoparticles, drug uptake of cancer cells, cytotoxicity and in vivo results were collected. The results showed that the nanoparticles were synthesised with a mean size of 37.9 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 67%. The drug release from these nanoparticles was about 90% within 4 h in acidic medium. Also, targeted delivery of Epi enhanced its anticancer effects in both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, targeted delivery of Epi using Apt-modified Ft NPs improved in vitro and in vivo results which indicates that it could be useful as a successful drug delivery system against cancer cells.