Catanionic solid lipid nanoparticles carrying doxorubicin for inhibiting the growth of U87MG cells

Catanionic solid lipid nanoparticles (CASLNs), loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) and grafted with anti-epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) (anti-EGFR/Dox-CASLNs), were applied to suppressing propagation of malignant U87MG cells. U87MG cells were cultured with anti-EGFR/Dox-CASLNs for assessing the cell viability and EGFR expression. When the concentration of catanionic surfactants, containing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium anionic sodium dodecylsulfate, was 1 mM, CASLNs entrapped the largest quantity of Dox. The order of cacao butter (CB) in the entrapment efficiency of Dox was 50% CB > 0% CB > 100% CB. In addition, the release rate of Dox and the antiproliferative effect on U87MG cells were in the following order: 100% CB > 0% CB > 50% CB. A high level of CB in anti-EGFR/Dox-CASLNs reduced the cytotoxicity to human brain-microvascular endothelial cells. The immunochemical staining revealed that the crosslinked anti-EGFR on the surface of Dox-CASLNs preserved a high specificity in recognizing EGFR on U87MG cells and inducing growth-inhibition effect. The innovated anti-EGFR/Dox-CASLNs can be an effective delivery system with high targeting efficacy against the growth of brain glioblastomas carcinoma. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.