CD44 and CD221 directed magnetic cubosomes for the targeted delivery of helenalin to rhabdomyosarcoma cells

What is it about?

Targeted drug delivery vehicles such as nanoparticles aim to increase effective levels of chemotherapy for tumor cells while reducing side effects for healthy cells. Cubosomes are tiny cubic phase lipid particles with a size range of 100-500 nm and they possess crystalline phase with 3D honeycomb structured water channels. Treating cancer cells with cubosomes carrying anticancer drugs, such as helenalin, could confine the therapy to tumour sites; however, these nanocarriers would not extert their targeting efficiency without functionalising their surfaces. Hence, we investigated outstanding surface markers of rhabdomyosarcoma (a paediatric cancer) cells and attached ligands for overexpressed receptors on the surface of cubosomes for active targeting towards cancer cells.

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Why is it important?

Through a number of verifications, we found that CD44 and CD221 receptors may be dominantly allocated on the extracellular membrane of RD cells. Hyaluronic acid (a ligand for CD44 receptor) and half anti-CD221 antibodies were conjugated to cubosomes via electrostatic attractions and the thio-maleimide Michael reaction. Magnetic field-responsive function was also conferred to cubosomes by embedding 5 nm-sized iron oxide nanoparticles within lipid phases. These triple functional cubosomes loaded with helenalin were able to enhance the antitumour efficacy of cargo compound through inducing ~72% cytotoxicity against rhabdomyosarcoma cells while maintaining negligible off-target effects on fibroblast cells.