Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents one of the most lethal brain tumor with a dismal prognosis. And nanodrug delivery system (nano-DDS) have raised a lot of concern, while the conventional nanoformulations addressed many limitations, especially the low drug loading capacity and poor stability in vivo. Herein, we proposed PTX prodrug (PTX-SS-C18) conjugate self-assembled nanoparticles (PSNPs) functionalized with Pep-1, glioma homing peptide, to overcome the blood brain tumor barrier (BBTB) via interleukin 13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2)-mediated endocytosis for targeting GMB. This nanocarrier was with ultrahigh drug loading capacity (56.03%) and redox-sensitivity to the up-expression of glutathione in glioma tumors. And compared with PEG-PSNPs, Pep-PSNPs could significantly enhance cellular uptake in U87MG cells via IL-13Rα2-mediated endocytosis. Enhanced cytotoxicity of Pep-PSNPs against U87MG cells and BCEC cells pretreated with glutathione monoester (GSH-OEt) confirmed that this nanosystem was sensitive to reduction environment, and there was significant difference between targeting and nontargeting groups in MTT assay. Real-time fluorescence image of intracranialU87MG glioma-bearing mice revealed that Pep-PSNPs could more efficiently accumulate at tumor site and improve the penetration. Furthermore, the ex vivo fluorescence imaging and corresponding semiquantitative results displayed that the glioma fluorescence intensity of Pep-PSNPs group was 1.74-fold higher than that of nontargeting group. Pep-PSNPs exhibited remarkable antiglioblastoma efficacy with an extended median survival time. In conclusion, Pep-PSNPs had a promising perspective as a targeting drug delivery system of PTX for glioma treatment.Keywords: Paclitaxel; Pep-1 peptide; Prodrug; Redox-responsive; Self-assembled nanoparticles; Targeting;

•The thermo-responsive supported lipid bilayer sealed the mesopores of MSNs.•High drug loading, hemocompatibility, and thermo-responsive release were achieved.•Premature release and untargeted drug delivery were reduced.Hybrid nanocarriers based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and supported lipid bilayer (SLB) have been studied as drug delivery system. It still remains challenges to develop these nanocarriers (SLB-MSNs) with on-demand drug release profile for chemotherapy. Here, we reported the biocompatible SLB-MSNs with high drug loading, which could release doxorubicin (DOX) in response to hyperthermia and reduce premature release. After synthesis of MSNs via a sol-gel procedure, the thermo-responsive SLB was deposited on the MSNs by sonication to completely seal the mesopores. The obtained SLB-MSNs consisted of 50 nm-sized MSN cores and 6.3 nm-thick SLB shells. Due to the big surface and pore volume of MSNs, the high drug loading content (7.30 ± 0.02%) and encapsulation efficiency (91.16 ± 0.28%) were achieved. The SLB blocking the mesopores reduced 50% of premature release and achieved on-demand release in a thermo-responsive manner. Moreover, SLB-MSNs showed good hemocompatibility at any tested concentration (25–700 μg/mL), while bare MSNs caused 100% of hemolysis at concentration larger than 325 μg/mL. In addition, in vitro U251 cell uptake experiment demonstrated that compared with uncapped MSNs, SLB-MSNs could prevent untargeted cellular uptake of DOX owing to reduced premature release and steric hindrance of PEG, which would be beneficial to minimize toxicity for healthy tissues. These results indicated that SLB-MSNs with thermo-responsive release capacity possessed great potential in future synergistic thermo-chemotherapy.Download high-res image (127KB)Download full-size image

Focal cerebral ischemia, known as stroke, causes serious long-term disabilities globally. Effective therapy for cerebral ischemia demands a carrier that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and subsequently target the ischemia area in brain. Here, we designed a novel neuroprotectant (ZL006) loaded dual targeted nanocarrier based on liposome (T7&SHp-P-LPs/ZL006) conjugated with T7 peptide (T7) and stroke homing peptide (SHp) for penetrating BBB and targeting ischemia area, respectively. Compared with non-targeting liposomes, T7&SHp-P-LPs/ZL006 could transport across BCEC cells and significantly enhance cellular uptake and reduce cells apoptosis of excitatory amino acid stimulated PC-12 cells. However, there was no significant difference in cellular uptake between SHp-modified and plain liposomes when PC-12 cells were incubated without excitatory amino acid. Besides, ex vivo fluorescent images indicated that DiR labeled T7&SHp-P-LPs could efficiently transport across BBB and mostly accumulated in ischemic region rather than normal cerebral hemisphere of MCAO rats. Furthermore, T7&SHp-P-LPs/ZL006 could enhance the ability of in vivo anti-ischemic stroke of MCAO rats. These results demonstrated that T7&SHp-P-LPs could be used as a safe and effective dual targeted nanocarrier for ischemic stroke treatment.

Combining treatment of anticancer cells and antiangiogenesis is considered to be a potential targeted strategy for brain glioblastoma therapy. In this study, by utilizing the overexpression of Interleukin 13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) on the glioma cells and heparan sulfate on neovascular endothelial cells, we developed a paclitaxel (PTX) loaded Pep-1 and CGKRK peptide-modified PEG–PLGA nanoparticle (PC-NP-PTX) for glioma cells and neovasculature dual-targeted chemotherapy to enhance the antiglioma efficacy. There were significant differences both on the enhancement of cellular uptake in HUVEC and C6 cells and on the improvement of in vitro antiglioma activity in the respect of proliferation, tumor spheroid growth, tube formation, and migration between PC-NP-PTX and Taxol and NP-PTX. As for C6 cells, the IC50 were 3.59 ± 0.056, 2.37 ± 0.044, 1.38 ± 0.028, 1.82 ± 0.035, and 1.00 ± 0.016 μg/mL of Taxol, NP-PTX, Pep-NP-PTX, CGKRK-NP-PTX, and PC-NP-PTX, and for HUVEC cells, the IC50 were 0.44 ± 0.006, 0.33 ± 0.005, 0.25 ± 0.005, 0.19 ± 0.004, and 0.16 ± 0.004 μg/mL of Taxol, NP-PTX, Pep-NP-PTX, CGKRK-NP-PTX, and PC-NP-PTX, respectively. In vivo distribution assays confirmed that PC-NP-PTX targeted and accumulated effectively at glioma site. PC-NP-PTX showed a longer median survival time of 61 days when compared with Taxol (22 days), NP-PTX (24 days), Pep-NP-PTX (32 days), and CGKRK-NP-PTX (34 days). The in vivo antiglioma efficacy and safety evaluation showed PC-NP-PTX significantly enhanced the antiglioma efficacy and displayed negligible acute toxicity.Keywords: antineovasculature; drug delivery; dual-targeted nanoparticle; glioma; paclitaxel;

•PEGylated PAMAM was utilized its small size and perfect penetration into tumor.•Pep-1 was used to overcome BBTB via interleukin IL-13Rα2 mediated endocytosis.•Pep-PEG-PAMAM was a promising nanocarrier for targeted delivery of brain glioma.Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor with a short survival time. The failure of chemotherapy is ascribed to the low transport of chemotherapeutics across the Blood Brain Tumor Barrier (BBTB) and poor penetration into tumor tissue. In order to overcome the two barriers, small nanoparticles with active targeted capability are urgently needed for GBM drug delivery. In this study, we proposed PEGylated Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer nanoparticles conjugated with glioma homing peptides (Pep-1) as potential glioma targeting delivery system (Pep-PEG-PAMAM), where PEGylated PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticle was utilized as carrier due to its small size and perfect penetration into tumor and Pep-1 was used to overcome BBTB via interleukin 13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) mediated endocytosis. The preliminary availability and safety of Pep-PEG-PAMAM as a nanocarrier for glioma was evaluated. In vitro results indicated that a significantly higher amount of Pep-PEG-PAMAM was endocytosed by U87 MG cells. In vivo fluorescence imaging of U87MG tumor-bearing mice confirmed that the fluorescence intensity at glioma site of targeted group was 2.02 folds higher than that of untargeted group (**p < 0.01), and glioma distribution experiment further revealed that Pep-PEG-PAMAM exhibited a significantly enhanced accumulation and improved penetration at tumor site. In conclusion, Pep-1 modified PAMAM was a promising nanocarrier for targeted delivery of brain glioma.

Brinzolamide (BLZ) is a drug used to treat glaucoma; however, its use is restricted due to some unwanted adverse events. The goal of this study was to develop BLZ-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (BLZ LCNPs) and to figure out the possibility of LCNPs as a new therapeutic system for glaucoma. BLZ LCNPs were produced by a modified emulsification method and their physicochemical aspects were estimated. In vitro release study revealed BLZ LCNPs displayed to some extent prolonged drug release behavior in contrast to that of BLZ commercial product (Azopt®). The ex vivo apparent permeability coefficient of BLZ LCNP systems demonstrated a 3.47-fold increase compared with that of Azopt®. The pharmacodynamics was checked over by calculating the percentage fall in intraocular pressure and the pharmacodynamic test showed that BLZ LCNPs had better therapeutic potential than Azopt®. Furthermore, the in vivo ophthalmic irritation was evaluated by Draize test. In conclusion, BLZ LCNPs would be a promising delivery system used for the treatment of glaucoma, with advantages such as lower doses but maintaining the effectiveness, better ocular bioavailability, and patient compliance compared with Azopt®.