Folate-targeted nanoparticle delivery of androgen receptor shRNA enhances the sensitivity of hormone-independent prostate cancer to radiotherapy

Androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), inhibiting the expression of AR or blocking the activity of AR may be an alternative way to improve the radiosensitivity of hormone-independent PCa (HIPC). In this study, we engineered a nanoparticle (NP) formulation of AR-shRNA with H1 (folate-PEI600-cyclodextrin) nanopolymer. We demonstrated that NP AR-shRNA could improve the radiosensitivity of AR-dependent HIPC in vitro and in vivo. Our study supports further investigations using NPs to deliver AR-shRNA to improve the therapeutic index of radiotherapy for HIPC.159