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Cellulose nanocrystals: a novel biomaterial for targeted drug delivery applications
Author(s) -
Colacino Katelyn Rose,
Dong Shuping,
Roman Maren,
Lee Yong Woo
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.762.3
Subject(s) - fluorescein isothiocyanate , nanocarriers , doxorubicin , chemistry , drug delivery , cancer cell , in vitro , folate receptor , targeted drug delivery , biochemistry , pharmacology , cancer , chemotherapy , fluorescence , medicine , organic chemistry , physics , surgery , quantum mechanics
The present study was designed to determine the effectiveness of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as nanocarriers in targeted drug delivery to cancer. CNCs, which are rod‐like, glucose‐based nanoparticles, were prepared via sulfuric acid hydrolysis from bleached dissolving‐grade softwood pulp. A variety of CNC conjugates, such as CNCs linked with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent dye, without (FITC‐CNC) or with folic acid (FITC‐CNC‐FA), a targeting ligand, and CNCs linked with doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic agent, without (DOX‐CNC) or with folic acid (DOX‐CNC‐FA) were synthesized and characterized. KB and MDA‐MB‐468 cells were grown in folic acid (FA)‐free medium and used as in vitro cancer models. Real‐time RT‐PCR and immunofluorescent staining confirmed the overexpression of folate receptor (FR) in KB and MDA‐MB‐468 cells. Incubation of cancer cells with FITC‐CNC‐FA resulted in significantly higher binding/uptake than incubation of cells with FITC‐CNC or free FITC. Furthermore, significantly lower cell viability was observed in cancer cells exposed to DOX‐CNC‐FA than in cells treated with free DOX or DOX‐CNC. These results showcase a new biological role for CNC that may contribute to the development of a potential, novel strategy for the treatment of cancer. (This work was supported by National Science Foundation # DMR0907567)