Carbon Dioxide-Generating PLG Nanoparticles for Controlled Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery

Abstract

Purpose Poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) nanoparticles containing doxorubicin and mineralized calcium carbonate were fabricated and their anti-tumor efficacy was tested using a neuroblastoma-bearing mouse model. Methods PLG nanoparticles were prepared by a double emulsion (water-in-oil-in-water; W/O/W) method. Calcium carbonate was mineralized within the PLG nanoparticles during the emulsion process. Rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) peptide was chemically introduced to the surface of the PLG nanoparticles as a targeting moiety against neuroblastoma. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake characteristics of these nanoparticles were investigated in vitro. Moreover, their therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using a tumor-bearing mouse model. Results Mineralized calcium carbonate in PLG nanoparticles was ionized at acidic pH and generated carbon dioxide gas, which resultantly accelerated the release of doxorubicin from the nanoparticles. RVG peptide-modified, gas-generating PLG nanoparticles showed a significantly enhanced targeting ability to neuroblastoma and an increased therapeutic efficacy in vivo as compared with free doxorubicin. Conclusions Targeting ligand-modified polymer nanoparticles containing both anti-cancer drug and mineralized calcium carbonate could be useful for cancer treatment.