Efficient delivery of Notch1 siRNA to SKOV3 cells by cationic cholesterol derivative-based liposome.

A novel cationic cholesterol derivative-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference strategy was suggested to inhibit Notch1 activation in SKOV3 cells for the gene therapy of ovarian cancer. The cationic cholesterol derivative, -(cholesterylhemisuccinoyl-amino-3-propyl)-, -dimethylamine (DMAPA-chems) liposome, was incubated with siRNA at different nitrogen-to-phosphate ratios to form stabilized, near-spherical siRNA/DMAPA-chems nanoparticles with sizes of 100-200 nm and zeta potentials of 40-50 mV. The siRNA/DMAPA-chems nanoparticles protected siRNA from nuclease degradation in 25% fetal bovine serum.

Specific targeting of A54 homing peptide-functionalized dextran-g-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) micelles to tumor cells.

The delivery of chemotherapeutics into tumor cells is a fundamental knot for tumor-target therapy to improve the curative effect and avoid side effects. Here, A54 peptide-functionalized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-grafted dextran (A54-Dex-PLGA) was synthesized. The synthesized A54-Dex-PLGA self-assembled to form micelles with a low critical micelle concentration of 16.

RGD peptide-mediated chitosan-based polymeric micelles targeting delivery for integrin-overexpressing tumor cells.

Background: Solid tumors need new blood vessels to feed and nourish them as well as to allow tumor cells to escape into the circulation and lodge in other organs, which is termed "angiogenesis." Some tumor cells within solid tumors can overexpress integrins α(v)β(3) and α(v)β(5), which can specifically recognize the peptide motif Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). Thus, the targeting of RGD-modified micelles to tumor vasculature is a promising strategy for tumor-targeting treatment.

Enhanced cytotoxicity of core modified chitosan based polymeric micelles for doxorubicin delivery.

In this study, the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) loaded stearic acid grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-SA) micelles and its core modified drug delivery systems were investigated in vitro. The in vitro drug release experiments using cellular culture medium, Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 (RPMI-1640) medium as a dissolution medium confirmed that the DOX release from CSO-SA micelles was successfully delayed by the core modification of CSO-SA micelles with stearic acid (SA). The cell viability assay against A549 cells indicated the 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of blank CSO-SA micelles and the core modified CSO-SA micelles was 369 +/- 27 microg/mL and 234 +/- 9 microg/mL, respectively.

Core-modified chitosan-based polymeric micelles for controlled release of doxorubicin.

Amphiphilic stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-SA) micelles have been shown a good drug delivery system by incorporating hydrophobic drugs into the core of the micelles. One of the problems associated with the use of CSO-SA micelles is disassociation or the initial burst drug release during the dilution of drug delivery system by body fluid. Herein, the core of CSO-SA micelles was modified by the physical solubilization of stearic acid (SA) to reduce the burst drug release and enhance the physical stability of CSO-SA micelles.

Preparation and characteristics of monostearin nanostructured lipid carriers.

Nanostuctured lipid carriers (NLC) consisted of solid lipid and liquid lipid are a new type of lipid nanoparticles, which offer the advantage of improved drug loading capacity and release properties. In this study, solvent diffusion method was employed to produce NLC. Monostearin (MS) and caprylic/capric triglycerides (CT) were chosen as the solid lipid and liquid lipid.

Preparation and characterization of stearic acid nanostructured lipid carriers by solvent diffusion method in an aqueous system.

Nanostuctured lipid carriers (NLC) based on mixture of solid lipids with spatially incompatible liquid lipids are a new type of lipid nanoparticles, which offer the advantage of improved drug loading capacity and release properties. In present study, stearic acid (SA) nanostuctured lipid carriers with various oleic acid (OA) content were successfully prepared by solvent diffusion method in an aqueous system. The size and surface morphology of nanoparticles were significantly influenced by OA content.

[Preparation and characterization of stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide polymeric micelles].

Aim: To prepare the micelles of stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide and investigate the drug release from micelles.

Methods: Mediated by a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), stearic acid (SA) was covalently attached to chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO), and the graft polymer (CSO-SA) was obtained. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of the CSO-SA was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of pyrene as a fluorescent probe.