Modification of graphene oxide by angiopep-2 enhances anti-glioma efficiency of the nanoscaled delivery system for doxorubicin

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the improved nanoscaled delivery system for doxorubicin (Dox) based on angiopep (ANG)-2 modified graphene oxide (GO), the so-called ANG-Dox-GO, in suppressing the growth and and metastasis of glioma cells. Results: Modification of GO by angiopep-2 significantly increased the cellular uptake of Dox. In addition, ANG-Dox-GO treatment of U87 MG cells significantly inhibited cell viability, decreased clone number, cell migration and invasion andinduced cell apoptosis, with superior efficiency over that of Dox-GO and free Dox. Similar results were observed in in vivo experiments—tumor size and weight of glioma xenograft mice were obviously decreased after treatments with ANG-Dox-GO, Dox-GO and Dox, respectively, as compared with control group, and the efficiency was the highest in ANG-Dox-GO, followed by Dox-Go and Dox. Conclusions: ANG-Dox-GO exhibited superior anti-glioma effects over Dox-GO both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods: The morphology of ANG-Dox-GO was analyzed by UV visible absorption spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy and its in vitro cellular uptake was measured using confocal imaging analysis. The antitumor effects of GO, unbound Dox, Dox-GO and ANG-Dox-GO were evaluated by MTT assay, colony-forming assay, cell apoptosis assay and Transwell assay in U87 malignant glioma (MG) cells.