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Current Drug Delivery

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1567-2018
ISSN (Online): 1875-5704

Research Article

Doxorubicin-Loaded Micelle Targeting MUC1: A Potential Therapeutic for MUC1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Author(s): Supang Khondee, Chuda Chittasupho, Singkome Tima and Songyot Anuchapreeda*

Volume 15, Issue 3, 2018

Page: [406 - 416] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/1567201814666170712122508

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease associated with poor prognosis and lack of validated targeted therapy. Thus chemotherapy is a main adjuvant treatment for TNBC patients, but it associates with severe toxicities. For a better treatment outcome, we developed an alternative therapeutic, doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded micelles targeting human mucin1 protein (MUC1) that is less toxic, more effective and targeted to TNBC.

Methods: From many candidate peptides, QNDRHPR-GGGSK (QND) and HSQLPQV-GGGSK (HSQ) were identified computationally, synthesized and purified using solid phase peptide synthesis and semipreparative HPLC. The peptides showed significant high binding to MUC1 expressing cells using a fluorescent microscope. The peptides were then conjugated on pegylated octadecyl lithocholate copolymer. DOX-encapsulated micelles were formed through self-assembly. MUC1-targeted micelles were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Drug entrapment efficiency was examined using a microplate reader. Cytotoxicity, binding, and uptake were also investigated.

Results: Two types of DOX-loaded micelles with different targeting peptides, QND or HSQ, were developed. DOX-loaded micelles were spherical in shape with average particle size around 300-320 nm. Drug entrapment efficiency of untargeted and targeted DOX micelles was about 71-93%. Targeted QND-DOX and HSQ-DOX micelles exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity compared to free DOX and untargeted DOX micelles on BT549-Luc cells. In addition, significantly greater binding and uptake were observed for QND-DOX and HSQ-DOX micelles on BT549-Luc and T47D cells.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggested that QND-DOX and HSQ-DOX micelles have a potential application in the treatment of TNBC-expressing MUC1.

Keywords: Human mucin1 protein (MUC1), targeted therapy, triple negative breast cancer, doxorubicin, micelles, pegylation.

Graphical Abstract

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