Self-assembled Lipid Nanoparticles for Killing Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) lacking estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on their cell surfaces are highly aggressive, difficult-to-treat and often relapse. Herein, we report on the self-assembled lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) of two new pegylated lipopeptides for killing TNBCs (MDA-MB-231). The pegylated lipopeptides were synthesized by conjugating an n-hexadecyl hydrophobic tail to one end of a (PEG) unit the other distal end of which was covalently grafted with two previously reported tumor targeting RGDK- and CGKRK- peptides.

Relative biomembrane fusogenicities of the tumor-selective liposomes of RGDK- and CGKRK-lipopeptides.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally after heart diseases. Currently used highly cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs not only kill cancer cells but also often kill non-cancerous healthy body cells, causing adverse side effects. Efforts are now being directed towards developing tumor-selective chemotherapy.

RGDK-lipopeptide for targeting genetic vaccines to antigen presenting cells.

To ensure effective immune response in genetic immunizations, DNA/mRNA vaccines need to be delivered to body's antigen presenting cells (APCs) which is a challenging task. This is primarily due to presence of high concentrations of various degradative enzymes inside them. To this end, mannose receptor (over expressed in APCs) selective cationic liposomes have been used in the past for delivering antigen-encoded plasmid DNA to APCs.

Influence of Linker Orientation and Regulative Factor(s) in Liposomal Gene Delivery: A Molecular Level Investigation.

Molecular level understanding of liposome-gene interaction is immensely important for the research progress and technological advancement of gene delivery, which is highly significant due to a wide range of applications of gene therapy. The liposomal gene delivery method is one of the most promising techniques due to its efficacy to easily fuse with the cell membrane and its lower toxicity. In vivo gene delivery using liposomes is reported to be extremely successful.