Preparation of Novel ICT-CMC-CD59sp Drug-Loaded Microspheres and Targeting Anti-Tumor Effect on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a great clinical challenge, and the malignant proliferation of OSCC cells can lead to the overexpression of CD59. In this study, a novel microsphere (ICT-CMC-CD59sp) composed of icariin (ICT), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), and cell differentiation antigen 59-specific ligand peptide (CD59sp) was successfully prepared by using the emulsion cross-linking method. Through the guidance of CD59sp, the microspheres can target OSCC cells and play a therapeutic role (p < 0.01). The MTT test and trypan blue staining showed that the microspheres could promote the apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and had a significant difference (p < 0.01). In this study, the regulatory effect of the microspheres on OSCC cells was investigated at the cellular level, and its therapeutic effect on OSCC was discussed, which provided a new perspective for the targeted therapy of OSCC.