A new core-shell-type nanoparticle loaded with paclitaxel/norcantharidin and modified with APRPG enhances anti-tumor effects in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nanoparticle delivery systems have been shown to improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer drugs, including a variety of drugs for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the current systems show some limitations, and the delivery of more effective nanoparticle systems for anti-HCC drugs with better targeting ability are needed. Here, we created paclitaxel (PTX)/norcantharidin (NCTD)-loaded core-shell lipid nanoparticles modified with a tumor neovasculature-targeted peptide (Ala-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly, APRPG) and investigated their anti-tumor effects in HCC.