An Aptamer-Liposome Delivery System Targets Breast Cancer Cells

A specific and reversible drug delivery system has been constructed from liposomes bound to specific aptamers, which are short strands of DNA or RNA.

Investigators at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana, USA) encapsulated the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin into phospholipid liposomes. The liposomes were tagged with DNA aptamers that bound specifically to nucleolin receptors, which are found in abundance on certain breast cancer cells.

The cisplatin-liposomes were used to treat breast cancer cells growing in tissue culture. Results published in the July 21, 2009 online edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie revealed that by four days after liposome treatment 59.5% of the breast cancer cells had died, while less than 12% of breast cancer cells treated with cisplatin alone had died.

Senior author Dr. Yi Lu, professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois, said, "By labeling a liposome that contains cisplatin with a cancer cell-specific aptamer, we have shown delivery of the drugs to cancer cells without significant damage to regular cells, making it possible to maximize the drug potency while minimizing its side effects.”

The investigators also reported that by adding a complimentary aptamer that would bind to and neutralize the cancer specific aptamer attached to the liposomes they could regulate the effective dosage of chemotherapeutic agent.

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