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Steroid hormone receptor based gene delivery systems as potential oral cancer therapeutics

Dwaipayan Bhattacharya1, Madhu Rani Bharati1, Kalyani Sakhare1

  • 1Department of Biological Science, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawaharnagar, Kapra Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India.

Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England)
|January 30, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study explores targeting oral cancer using plant-derived saponin liposomes to deliver anticancer genes. These novel liposomes show potential for selective cancer cell targeting and apoptosis induction, offering an inexpensive therapeutic approach.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Glucocorticoid and Mineralocorticoid receptors influence human cancer development.
  • Steroid hormone receptors (SHRs) exhibit aberrant behavior in cancer.
  • Targeting SHRs for oral cancer treatment remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate SHRs as a potential target for oral cancer therapy.
  • Evaluate plant-derived saponin liposomes for targeted drug delivery.
  • Assess the efficacy of delivering anticancer genes to oral cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Formulation of liposomes with synthetic and natural SHR ligands from an Indian medicinal plant.
  • Development of lipoplexes for targeted transfection of oral cancer cells.
  • Delivery of exogenous p53 gene using saponin-based liposomes to oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Main Results:

  • Lipoplexes demonstrated targeted transfectability, confirmed by green fluorescent protein expression.
  • Saponin-based liposomes successfully delivered the p53 gene, inducing cancer cell apoptosis.
  • Apoptosis was mediated by regulating BAX and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL2) protein levels.
  • Efficacy was comparable to synthetic ligand-based delivery systems.

Conclusions:

  • Plant saponin-based liposomes offer a promising, inexpensive delivery system for oral cancer treatment.
  • These systems exhibit selective targeting of cancer cells, potentially reducing off-target side effects.
  • Further development could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for oral cancer.
Keywords:
nanomedicineoral cancersaponinsteroid hormone receptortransfection

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