Targeted drug delivery of Sunitinib Malate to tumor blood vessels by cRGD-chiotosan-gold nanoparticles

The unique characteristics of tumor vasculature represent an attractive strategy for targeted delivery of antitumor and antiangiogenic agents to the tumor. The purpose of this study was to prepare c(RGDfK) labeled chitosan capped gold nanoparticles [cRGD(CS-Au) NPs] as a carrier for selective intracellular delivery of Sunitinib Malate (STB) to the tumor vasculature. cRGD(CS-Au) NPs was formed by electrostatic interaction between cationic CS and anionic AuNPs. cRGD modified CS-Au NPs had a spherical shape with a narrow size distribution. The entrapment efficiency of sunitinib molecule was found to be 45.2% +/- 2.05. Confocal microscopy showed enhanced and selective uptake of cRGD(CS-Au) NPs into MCF-7 and HUVEC cells compared with non-targeted CS-Au NPs. Our results suggest that it may be possible to use cRGD(CS-Au) NPs as a carrier for delivery of anticancer drugs, genes and biomolecules for inhibiting tumor vasculature. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.