Gemcitabine and chlorotoxin conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy. Issue 1 (2nd December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mu, Qingxin; Lin, Guanyou; Patton, Victoria K.; Wang, Kui; Press, Oliver W.; Zhang, Miqin
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2015-12-02
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5tb02123e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : Nanoparticles bearing gemcitabine and chlorotoxin show efficient cancer cell uptake and killing, extended blood half-life, and blood–brain barrier penetration. Abstract : Many small-molecule anti-cancer drugs have short blood half-lives and toxicity issues due to non-specificity. Nanotechnology has shown great promise in addressing these issues. Here, we report the development of anti-cancer drug gemcitabine-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy. A glioblastoma targeting peptide, chlorotoxin, was attached after drug conjugation. The nanoparticles have a small size (∼32 nm) and uniform size distribution (PDI ≈ 0.1), and are stable in biological medium. The nanoparticles effectively enter cancer cells without losing potency compared to the free drug. Significantly, the nanoparticles showed a prolonged blood half-life and the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier in wild type mice.