Reactive precursor PLGA-PEG-COOH from PolySciTech used in development of theranostic colon-cancer therapy

Cancer remains one of the most difficult diseases to treat partially due to difficulty in developing systems which can differentiate between cancerous tissue and normal tissue. Recently, researchers at Mashhad University and Tabriz University used PLGA-PEG-COOH (PolyVivo# AI076) as part of generating a targeted nanoparticle system. The particles were loaded both with doxorubicin, to provide for therapeutic treatment, and with iron oxide to act as a contrast agent for imaging. This research holds promise for both improved therapy and diagnosis for cancer. Read more: Mosafer, Jafar, Khalil Abnous, Mohsen Tafaghodi, Ahad Mokhtarzadeh, and Mohammad Ramezani. "In vitro and in vivo evaluation of anti-nucleolin-targeted magnetic PLGA nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin as a theranostic agent for enhanced targeted cancer imaging and therapy." European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics 113 (2017): 60-74. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939641116309651

“Abstract: A superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs)/doxorubicin (Dox) co-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based nanoparticles targeted with AS1411 aptamer (Apt) against murine C26 colon carcinoma cells is successfully developed via a modified multiple emulsion solvent evaporation method for theranostic purposes. The mean size of SPIO/Dox-NPs (NPs) was 130 nm with a narrow particle size distribution and Dox loading of 3.0%. The SPIO loading of 16.0% and acceptable magnetic properties are obtained and analyzed using thermogravimetric and vibration simple magnetometer analysis, respectively. The best release profile from NPs was observed in PBS at pH 7.4, in which very low burst release was observed. Nucleolin is a targeting ligand to facilitate anti-tumor delivery of AS1411-targeted NPs. The Apt conjugation to NPs (Apt-NPs) enhanced cellular uptake of Dox in C26 cancer cells. Apt-NPs enhance the cytotoxicity effect of Dox followed by a significantly higher tumor inhibition and prolonged animal survival in mice bearing C26 colon carcinoma xenografts. Furthermore, Apt-NPs enhance the contrast of magnetic resonance images in tumor site. Altogether, these Apt-NPs could be considered as a powerful tumor-targeted delivery system for their potential as dual therapeutic and diagnostic applications in cancers.”