Tumor Targeting by Peptide-Decorated Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the most important challenges in biomedical sciences. Chemotherapeutic agents are very potent molecules that exhibit a significant level of toxicity in numerous tissues of the body, particularly in those characterized by high proliferative activity, such as the bone marrow. The scenario is even more complex in the case of the central nervous system, and in particular brain tumors, where the blood brain barrier limits the efficacy of drug therapies. Integrins, transmembrane proteins widely expressed in different types of cancer (glioblastoma, melanoma, and breast cancer), regulate the angiogenic process and play a pivotal role in tumor growth and invasion. Here, we report a nanotechnology strategy based on the use of AuNPs decorated with an arginine−glycine−aspartic acid-like peptide for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Two hours after administration in mice, the accumulation of the peptide-decorated NPs in the subcutaneous tumor was ∼4-fold higher than that of uncoated particles and ∼1.4-fold higher than that of PEGylated particles. Also, in the case of the intracranial tumor model, interesting results were obtained. Indeed, 2 h after administration, the amount of peptide-decorated particles in the brain was 1.5-fold that of undecorated particles and 5-fold that of PEGylated particles. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrates the high potential of this carrier developed for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Investigation of Nano-Bio Interactions within a Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment for the Advancement of Nanomedicine in Cancer Treatment

“…Our approach of modifying the surface properties of GNPs would enable higher circulation time, as well as active targeting of tumor cells once they reach the tumor tissue. This hypothesis has been further supported by another in vivo study where GNPs decorated with an RGD-like peptide had a four-fold higher accumulation within the tumor compared to that of uncoated particles [56]. The safety and efficacy of a multiple dosing approach has been demonstrated using GNPs and has been found to increase particle accumulation in tumors [57].…”

Nanoparticles-based magnetic and photo induced hyperthermia for cancer treatment

“…The delivery issue is common to all types of particles, but it is mitigated by the characteristic of tumor cells to be easier penetrated by NPs than healthy cells, while being less vascularized and more corrugated tend to retain particles for longer time, thus the definition of enhanced penetration/retention (EPR) of tumors. Numerous studies had been focused in pointing out the NPs parameters which maximize the EPR effect [204,220,221], while other followed a more active targeting philosophy working on modifying the surface of particles with specific antigens or molecules able to interact with specific tumors [222][223][224].…”

Gold nanoparticles carrying or not anti-VEGF antibody do not change glioblastoma multiforme tumor progression in mice

“…However, as observed before for tumor cell internalization, nanoparticle covering may be of great importance to determine the number of nanoparticles that crosses the BBB. In fact, it was demonstrated that arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-like peptide decorated gold nanoparticles in brain tumor was 1.5-fold that of undecorated nanoparticles and 5-fold that of PEGylated nanoparticles [52]. Besides, the size of nanoparticles is also an important factor that influences the nanoparticle capacity of crossing the BBB.…”