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Updated: Aug 23, 2025
Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Multi-Targeting Nano-Systems Targeting Heterogeneous Cancer Cells for Therapeutics and Biomarker Detection
Xiao-He Ren1, Di Han1, Xiao-Yan He2
1Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China.
Abstract:
Cancer heterogeneity plays a vital part in cancer resistance and metastasis. To provide a reliable approach to exert a therapy action and evaluate its efficiency in heterogeneous cancer cells, a multiple targeting delivery vector composed of histone encapsulating the therapeutic or diagnostic agent, hyaluronic acid targeting CD44 overexpressed in stem tumor cells, SYL3C aptamer targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) overexpressed in epithelial cancer cells, and CL4 aptamer targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressed in mesenchymal cancer cells, is developed. The vector can efficiently target different cancer cells and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients for mucin 1 (MUC1) knockout. Furthermore, the multiple targeting vector can be used to co-encapsulate three types of molecular beacons for probing various mRNA biomarkers at single-cell resolution after genome editing. This study provides an efficient approach for exerting therapeutic actions in heterogeneous cancer cells and assessing the therapeutic efficacy by detection of cancer biomarkers via liquid biopsy.
Insights
This study developed a novel multi-targeting vector to deliver therapies to diverse cancer cells and circulating tumor cells. This approach enables precise cancer treatment and efficacy assessment through liquid biopsy and mRNA biomarker detection.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cancer heterogeneity contributes to treatment resistance and metastasis.
- Targeting specific cancer cell markers is crucial for effective therapy.
- Evaluating therapeutic efficacy in heterogeneous tumors requires advanced methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multi-targeting delivery vector for heterogeneous cancer cells.
- To enable targeted therapy and efficacy assessment in vivo.
- To facilitate single-cell resolution biomarker detection via liquid biopsy.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a multi-targeting vector using histone, hyaluronic acid (targeting CD44), SYL3C aptamer (targeting EpCAM), and CL4 aptamer (targeting EGFR).
- Utilized the vector for targeted delivery of therapeutic/diagnostic agents and MUC1 knockout.
- Co-encapsulated molecular beacons for mRNA biomarker detection at single-cell resolution.
Main Results:
- The vector efficiently targeted various cancer cells and circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
- Demonstrated MUC1 knockout in targeted cells.
- Enabled simultaneous probing of multiple mRNA biomarkers post-genome editing.
Conclusions:
- The developed vector offers a reliable approach for targeted therapy in heterogeneous cancers.
- This platform allows for efficient assessment of therapeutic efficacy using liquid biopsy.
- The study advances personalized cancer treatment strategies through precise targeting and monitoring.
