Tumor-Targeted Erythrocyte Membrane Nanoparticles for Theranostics of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells do not contain various receptors for targeted treatment, a reason behind the poor prognosis of this disease. In this study, biocompatible theranostic erythrocyte-derived nanoparticles (EDNs) were developed and evaluated for effective early diagnosis and treatment of TNBC. The anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), was encapsulated into the EDNs and diagnostic quantum dots (QDs) were incorporated into the lipid bilayers of EDNs for tumor bio-imaging. Then, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody molecules were conjugated to the surface of EDNs for TNBC targeting (iEDNs). According to the confocal microscopic analyses and biodistribution assay, iEDNs showed a higher accumulation in EGFR-positive MDA-MB-231 cancers in vitro as well as in vivo, compared to untargeted EDNs. iEDNs containing doxorubicin (iEDNs-DOX) showed a stronger inhibition of target tumor growth than untargeted ones. The resulting anti-EGFR iEDNs exhibited strong biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, and efficient targeting of TNBC in mice. Therefore, iEDNs may be used as potential TNBC-targeted co-delivery systems for therapeutics and diagnostics.

Automated summary

Biocompatible theranostic erythrocyte-derived nanoparticles (EDNs) were developed for effective early diagnosis and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The EDNs encapsulated the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and incorporated diagnostic quantum dots (QDs) for tumor bio-imaging. The surface of the EDNs was conjugated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody molecules to achieve TNBC targeting. This study demonstrated that the resulting antibody-conjugated EDNs exhibited strong biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, and efficient targeting of TNBC, making them potential co-delivery systems for therapeutics and diagnostics.