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Updated: Sep 8, 2025
Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Loading Drugs in Natural Phospholipid Bilayers of Cell Membrane Shells to Construct Biomimetic Nanocomposites for
Siyu Chi1, Miaomiao Zuo2, Mengting Zhu2
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
Abstract:
Drug-based oncotherapy is seriously challenged by insufficient drug accumulation at tumor sites, mainly resulting from low drug loading efficiency and poor tumor-targeting ability of drug carriers. We herein proposed a "one-stone, two-bird" strategy to circumvent both obstacles, utilizing the source cancer cell membrane (CM) as a dual-function carrier to simultaneously achieve sufficient drug loading and homologous tumor targeting. Combining the use of TPGS (d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) to inhibit the drug efflux process of drug-resistant tumor, we constructed core-shell-structured nanocomposites CMGNPs consisting of ICG (indocyanine green)/DOX (doxorubicin)-loaded, TPGS/OA (oleic acid)-stabilized upconversion nanoparticles as the core and ICG-loaded MCF7/ADR CMs as the shell, for combined chemo/phototherapy of MCF7/ADR tumor. The employment of phospholipid bilayers of CMs as natural pockets for extra drug loading while preserving the homologous targeting ability greatly enhanced drug concentration at tumor sites, endowing CMGNPs with excellent therapeutic efficacy. Our effort provides a versatile approach for facilitating drug delivery in diverse therapeutic systems.
Insights
This study introduces a novel cancer cell membrane (CM) nanoparticle for enhanced drug delivery. This dual-function carrier improves drug loading and tumor targeting, boosting therapeutic efficacy for combined chemo/phototherapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Drug delivery systems face challenges with low drug loading and poor tumor targeting.
- Drug-resistant tumors often exhibit reduced therapeutic efficacy due to drug efflux.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a dual-function carrier using cancer cell membranes (CM) for improved drug loading and homologous tumor targeting.
- To create core-shell nanocomposites (CMGNPs) for combined chemo/phototherapy against drug-resistant MCF7/ADR tumors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cancer cell membrane (CM) as a dual-function carrier for drug loading and targeting.
- Constructed core-shell nanocomposites (CMGNPs) with upconversion nanoparticles (ICG/DOX-loaded) as the core and CM as the shell.
- Incorporated TPGS (d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) to inhibit drug efflux in resistant tumors.
Main Results:
- CMGNPs demonstrated enhanced drug concentration at tumor sites due to CM's phospholipid bilayers.
- The nanocomposites achieved sufficient drug loading and homologous tumor targeting.
- Effective combined chemo/phototherapy was observed in MCF7/ADR tumor models.
Conclusions:
- The developed CM-based nanocomposites offer a versatile approach for efficient drug delivery in cancer therapy.
- This strategy overcomes limitations of low drug loading and poor targeting in current oncotherapy.
- The CMGNPs show significant potential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy in drug-resistant cancers.
