Functionalized selenium nanoparticles for targeted delivery of doxorubicin to improve non-small-cell lung cancer therapy

BACKGROUND: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) loaded with chemotherapeutic drugs provided a novel perspective for cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, SeNPs were modified with cyclic peptide (Arg–Gly–Asp–d-Phe–Cys [RGDfC]) to fabricate tumor-targeting delivery carrier RGDfC-SeNPs and, then, doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded to the surface of RGDfC-SeNPs for improving the antitumor efficacy of DOX in non-small-cell lung carcinoma therapy. RESULTS: The chemical structure characterization of RGDfC-Se@DOX showed that DOX was successfully loaded to the surface of RGDfC-SeNPs to prepare functionalized antitumor drug delivery system RGDfC-Se@DOX. RGDfC-Se@DOX exhibited effective cellular uptake in A549 cells and entered A549 cells mainly by clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway. Compared to free DOX or Se@DOX at the equivalent dose of DOX, RGDfC-Se@DOX showed greater activity to inhibit A549 cells’ proliferation and migration/invasion and induce A549 cells’ apoptosis. More importantly, compared with passive targeting delivery system Se@DOX, active targeting delivery system RGDfC-Se@DOX exhibited more significant antitumor efficacy in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, RGDfC-Se@DOX may be a novel promising drug candidate for the lung carcinoma therapy.