Construction of EGFR peptide gefitinib/quantum dots long circulating polymeric liposomes for treatment and detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Gefitinib/Quantum dots (QDs) loaded peptide long circulating liposomes (G/QDs-P-LCPL) were successfully prepared for treatment and detection by fluorescence labeling for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Gefitinib was found to have marked inhibition which is dose- and time-dependent. Hoechst 33258 florescence staining and wound-healing assay indicated that as G/QDs-P-LCPL concentration increased, HONE1 staining cells decreased, while the amount of nucleus pyknosis and karyorrhexis grew. Florescence tracing result shows that the drug mainly distributed through tumors. G-P-LCPL target the HONE1 cells and significantly increase the drug uptake efficiency so as to improve the cells inhibit rate compared with the non-targeting group. The EGFR peptide LCPL are potentially useful for drug and fluorescence labeled delivery applications.