Poly(sialic acid) (PSA) is a natural hydrophilic biodegradable and non-immunogenic biopolymer, receptors for its monomer are expressed on peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs), which plays important roles in the progression and invasion of tumors. A poly(sialic acid)–octadecylamine conjugate (PSA–ODA) was synthesized and then anchor it on the surface of liposomal pixantrone (Pix-PSL), to achieve an improved anticancer effect. The liposomes were prepared using a remote loading method via a pH gradient, and then assessed for particle size, zeta potential encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, and in vitro cytotoxicity. Simultaneously, in vitro and in vivo cellular uptake studies confirmed that PSA-decorated liposomes provided an enhanced accumulation of liposomes in PBNs. An in vivo study presented that the anti-tumor activity of Pix-PSL was superior to that of other Pix formulations, probably due to the efficient targeting of PBNs by Pix-PSL, after which PBN containing Pix-PSL (Pix-PSL/PBNs) in the blood circulation are recruited by the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that PSA-decorated liposomal Pix may provide a neutrophil-mediated drug delivery system (DDS) for the eradication of tumors, which represents a promising approach for the tumor targeting of chemotherapeutic treatments.
The "accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon" is known to be involved in the adaptive immune system. Regretfully, the relationship between the ABC phenomenon and innate immune system, especially with respect to Kupffer cells (KCs) has been largely unexplored. In this study, the contribution of KCs to ABC was examined using the 4-aminophenyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (APM) lipid derivative DSPE-PEG-APM (DPM) and the 4-aminophenyl-β-l-fucopyranoside (APF) lipid derivative DSPE-PEG-APF (DPF) as ligands for mannose/fucose receptors on KCs, which were synthesized and modified on the surface of liposomes. The results of cellular liposome uptake in vitro and biodistribution in vivo indicated that DPM and DPF comodified liposomes (MFPL5-5) present the strongest capability of KC-targeting among all preparations tested. In rats pretreated with MFPL5-5 instead of PEGylated liposomes (PL), the ABC phenomenon was significantly enhanced and the distribution of liposomes in the liver was increased. Cellular uptake of the second injection of PL in vivo demonstrated that KCs was responsible for the uptake. Furthermore, compared to pretreatment with PL, the uptake of second injection of PL was more enhanced when pretreated with MFPL5-5. These findings suggest that KCs, which are considered traditional members of the innate immune system, play a crucial role in the ABC phenomenon and act as a supplement to the phenomenon.
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