4 Aptamer-Based Drug Delivery Systems
97
adenocarcinoma HT29 cells. The experimental results of cell-toxicity assay and
confocal microscopy demonstrated that, attributed to the surface-modified aptamers,
the cellular uptake and the anticancer effect were significantly increased.
4.4.3 Biological Nanomaterials
4.4.3.1 Albumin
Owing with easy production, low cost, and good biocompatibility in vivo, albumin is
particularly popular in constructing nanocarriers. In 2018, Xu et al. [101] constructed
an aptamer-functionalized bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticle to deliver
DOX. Based on that work, they further developed a smart DOX&ICG@BSAKALA/Apt drug delivery system for tumor therapy and imaging [94]. As shown
in Fig. 4.7d, DOX&ICG@BSA nanoparticle was assembled from the anticancer
drug DOX, photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and BSA via hydrophobic
interaction. Then, the targeting agents, AS1411 aptamer and cell-penetrating
peptide (KALA) were decorated on the surface of the DOX&ICG@BSA nanoparticles through electrostatic interaction. The prepared DOX&ICG@BSA-KALA/Apt
nanoparticles realized tumor imaging and three modalities of tumor therapy: photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy. Under
dual induction of AS1411 and KALA, intracellular drug accumulation in tumor
cells was dramatically increased. The therapeutic efficiency of the drug delivery
system was also significantly improved due to combinational therapy including
DOX and IGG. Moreover, the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent/photothermal dualmode imaging accurately visualized the therapeutic condition of tumor. Therefore,
the multifunctional albumin-based therapeutic system has great potential in cancer
therapy. Additionally, Saleh et al. [102] synthesized a human serum albumin (HSA)based drug delivery system for targeted therapy of HER-2 positive breast cancer
cells. First, a hydrophobic drug curcumin(CUR) was encapsulated in HAS nanoparticles via desolvation method. Then, aHB5 aptamer which can specifically bind to
HER2 receptors was conjugated to the surface of HSA nanoparticles through chemical bonds. The results of cytotoxicity experiments showed no significant difference
between cytotoxic effect of free CUR and non-targeted HSA/CUR NPs in both HER2
positive and negative cell lines, while the toxicity of Apt-HSA/CUR NPs was significantly higher in HER2 positive cell line. In addition to being a carrier, albumin is
also an excellent material for improving the performance of nanoparticles, such as
preventing nanoparticles from being quickly cleared and increasing bioavailability.
Baneshi et al.
58 synthesized a novel multifunctional DOX@apt-BSA IONPs-AuNPs
nanoplatform via desolvation cross-linking method for cancer therapy. The structural
details, magnetic property, as well as thermal and colloidal stability of the nanoplatform were comprehensively studied. In vitro studies revealed that the IONPs–AuNPs
97
adenocarcinoma HT29 cells. The experimental results of cell-toxicity assay and
confocal microscopy demonstrated that, attributed to the surface-modified aptamers,
the cellular uptake and the anticancer effect were significantly increased.
4.4.3 Biological Nanomaterials
4.4.3.1 Albumin
Owing with easy production, low cost, and good biocompatibility in vivo, albumin is
particularly popular in constructing nanocarriers. In 2018, Xu et al. [101] constructed
an aptamer-functionalized bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticle to deliver
DOX. Based on that work, they further developed a smart DOX&ICG@BSAKALA/Apt drug delivery system for tumor therapy and imaging [94]. As shown
in Fig. 4.7d, DOX&ICG@BSA nanoparticle was assembled from the anticancer
drug DOX, photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and BSA via hydrophobic
interaction. Then, the targeting agents, AS1411 aptamer and cell-penetrating
peptide (KALA) were decorated on the surface of the DOX&ICG@BSA nanoparticles through electrostatic interaction. The prepared DOX&ICG@BSA-KALA/Apt
nanoparticles realized tumor imaging and three modalities of tumor therapy: photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy. Under
dual induction of AS1411 and KALA, intracellular drug accumulation in tumor
cells was dramatically increased. The therapeutic efficiency of the drug delivery
system was also significantly improved due to combinational therapy including
DOX and IGG. Moreover, the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent/photothermal dualmode imaging accurately visualized the therapeutic condition of tumor. Therefore,
the multifunctional albumin-based therapeutic system has great potential in cancer
therapy. Additionally, Saleh et al. [102] synthesized a human serum albumin (HSA)based drug delivery system for targeted therapy of HER-2 positive breast cancer
cells. First, a hydrophobic drug curcumin(CUR) was encapsulated in HAS nanoparticles via desolvation method. Then, aHB5 aptamer which can specifically bind to
HER2 receptors was conjugated to the surface of HSA nanoparticles through chemical bonds. The results of cytotoxicity experiments showed no significant difference
between cytotoxic effect of free CUR and non-targeted HSA/CUR NPs in both HER2
positive and negative cell lines, while the toxicity of Apt-HSA/CUR NPs was significantly higher in HER2 positive cell line. In addition to being a carrier, albumin is
also an excellent material for improving the performance of nanoparticles, such as
preventing nanoparticles from being quickly cleared and increasing bioavailability.
Baneshi et al.
58 synthesized a novel multifunctional DOX@apt-BSA IONPs-AuNPs
nanoplatform via desolvation cross-linking method for cancer therapy. The structural
details, magnetic property, as well as thermal and colloidal stability of the nanoplatform were comprehensively studied. In vitro studies revealed that the IONPs–AuNPs