Targeted nanoparticle enhanced proapoptotic peptide as potential therapy for glioblastoma

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Oct 18;108(42):17450-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1114518108. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

Antiangiogenic therapy can produce transient tumor regression in glioblastoma (GBM), but no prolongation in patient survival has been achieved. We have constructed a nanosystem targeted to tumor vasculature that incorporates three elements: (i) a tumor-homing peptide that specifically delivers its payload to the mitochondria of tumor endothelial cells and tumor cells, (ii) conjugation of this homing peptide with a proapoptotic peptide that acts on mitochondria, and (iii) multivalent presentation on iron oxide nanoparticles, which enhances the proapoptotic activity. The iron oxide component of the nanoparticles enabled imaging of GBM tumors in mice. Systemic treatment of GBM-bearing mice with the nanoparticles eradicated most tumors in one GBM mouse model and significantly delayed tumor development in another. Coinjecting the nanoparticles with a tumor-penetrating peptide further enhanced the therapeutic effect. Both models used have proven completely resistant to other therapies, suggesting clinical potential of our nanosystem.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / administration & dosage*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Oligopeptides