Folic acid-tagged protein nanoemulsions loaded with CORM-2 enhance the survival of mice bearing subcutaneous A20 lymphoma tumors

Nanomedicine. 2015 Jul;11(5):1077-83. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2015.02.022. Epub 2015 Mar 16.

Abstract

Folic Acid (FA)-tagged protein nanoemulsions were found to be preferentially internalized on B-cell lymphoma cell line (A20 cell line), which, for the first time, is reported to express folate receptor (FR)-alpha. Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) was incorporated in the oil phase of the initial formulation. FA-functionalized nanoemulsions loaded with CORM-2 exhibited a considerable antitumor effect and an increased survival of BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous A20 lymphoma tumors. The developed nanoemulsions also demonstrated to be well tolerated by these immunocompetent mice. Thus, the results obtained in this study demonstrate that FA-tagged protein nanoemulsions can be successfully used in cancer therapy, with the important ability to delivery drugs intracellularly.

From the clinical editor: In this research, the authors developed folic acid tagged nanoemulsions containing a carbon monoxide releasing protein molecule for targeted cancer cell treatment. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments showed efficacy against B-cell lymphoma cells. The same nanocarrier platform could be applied to other tumor cells expressing folate receptors on the cell surface.

Keywords: CORM-2; Folic acid; Protein nanoemulsions; Specific uptake; Targeted drug delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Female
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / metabolism
  • Folic Acid / chemistry*
  • Folic Acid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Organometallic Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Folic Acid