Targeting the Folate Receptor: Effects of Conjugating Folic Acid to DOX Loaded Polymeric Micelles

Title:Targeting the Folate Receptor: Effects of Conjugating Folic Acid to DOX Loaded Polymeric Micelles

Volume: 16 Issue: 10

Author(s): Mohamed A. Elkhodiry, Ghaleb A. Husseini and Diana Velluto

Affiliation:

Keywords: Doxorubicin, micelles, folate, active targeting, quenching, B16-F10, melanoma.

Abstract: In this paper, we report on a potential cancer drug delivery system that utilizes the ligand targeting of the folate receptor. Our drug delivery system consists of Pluronic-P105 micelles, targeted with folic acid moieties. A melanoma folate positive (FR+) (B16-F10), and a fibroblast folate negative (FR-) (NIH-3T3) cell lines are used to compare the cellular accumulation of a chemotherapeutic drug (Doxorubicin) when the delivery is mediated by folated Pluronic P105 micelles. In order to obtain a proper comparison, we corrected for the quenching of Doxorubicin by folic acid molecules and illustrated the significant effect of quenching on the analysis of similar systems. Results show an 80% increase in the accumulation of the antineoplastic agent in the FR+ cell line, when compared to the FR- cell line, thus providing evidence that the efficacy of Pluronic micelles, as drug delivery vehicles, can be enhanced via folic acid targeting.

Cite this article as:

Elkhodiry A. Mohamed, Husseini A. Ghaleb and Velluto Diana, Targeting the Folate Receptor: Effects of Conjugating Folic Acid to DOX Loaded Polymeric Micelles, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 16 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520616666160219161600