The antiangiogenic efficacy of NGR-modified PEG-DSPE micelles containing paclitaxel (NGR-M-PTX) for the treatment of glioma in rats

J Drug Target. 2011 Jun;19(5):382-90. doi: 10.3109/1061186X.2010.504267. Epub 2010 Aug 2.

Abstract

Aminopeptidase N (APN), recognized by Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) peptides, is expressed in the pericytes associated with the BBB, and the main objective of this study is to confirm the hypothesis that NGR-modified DSPE-PEG micelles containing paclitaxel (NGR-M-PTX) can bind to and kill brain tumor angiogenic blood vessels and penetrate into the brain tumor interstitial space, resulting in direct cell death. NGR-M-PTX is prepared by a thin-film hydration method. The in vitro targeting characteristics of NGR-modified micelles on BMEC (murine brain microvascular endothelial cells) were investigated. The effect of NGR-M-PTX on BMEC proliferation and the cytotoxicity of NGR-M-PTX in C6 glioma cells were also tested. The antitumor activity NGR-M-PTX was evaluated in C6 glioma tumor-bearing rats in vivo. The particle size of NGR-M-PTX was approximately 54.2 nm. The drug encapsulation efficiency of NGR-M-PTX was 82.11 ± 2.82%. The cellular coumarin-6 level of NGR-M-coumarin-6 in the BMEC was about 2.2-fold higher than that of M-coumarin-6. BMEC proliferation was significantly inhibited by NGR-M-PTX. NGR-M-PTX had a much lower IC(50) value than M-PTX and free drug. The growth of C6 glioma tumor was markedly inhibited by NGR-M-PTX compared with Taxol. In conclusion, our results show that antiangiogenic therapy using NGR-M-PTX exhibits potent in vivo antitumor activity in a C6 glioma-bearing animal model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glioma / blood supply
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / enzymology
  • Glutamyl Aminopeptidase / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Micelles
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Particle Size
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Drug Carriers
  • Micelles
  • NGR peptide
  • Oligopeptides
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • polyethylene glycol-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Glutamyl Aminopeptidase
  • Paclitaxel