Targeted delivery of doxorubicin to A549 lung cancer cells by CXCR4 antagonist conjugated PLGA nanoparticles

•The PLGA NP encapsulating DOX was successfully conjugated to LFC131 peptide.•The binding of LFC131-DOX NP to A549 cells was significantly greater than DOX NP.•The binding of LFC131-DOX NP in A549 cells occurred via a CXCR4-ligand interaction.•The cell sensitivity to DOX was greatly increased when treated with LFC131-DOX NP.

Doxorubicin is used to treat a variety of cancers, but dose limiting toxicity or intrinsic and acquired resistance limits its application in many types of cancer. CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor which implicates in metastasis of cancers including lung cancer. LFC131, a peptide inhibitor of CXCR4-ligand binding, is a linear type of low molecular weight CXCR4 antagonist. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using LFC131 conjugated nanoparticles for targeted delivering doxorubicin to CXCR4 expressing lung cancer cells. The LFC131 peptide was conjugated to sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose coated poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. Binding and cellular uptake of doxorubicin-loaded LFC131 conjugated nanoparticles (LFC131-DOX NP) in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells called A549 cells were higher and faster than that of untargeted nanoparticles. The specificity of CXCR4-mediated internalization of LFC131-DOX NPs was confirmed by using free LFC131 peptide or anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody. Cell studies suggested that sustained release of doxorubicin afforded by PLGA nanoparticles may enable LFC131-DOX NP as a targeted and controlled release drug delivery system.

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