The advantages of nanoparticles as vehicles to deliver drugs have been well-studied and characterized; alternatives include polymer-based solutions, liposomes, or core-shell colloidal particles.  We developed and examined the use of starch-hydrogel nanoparticles as a targeted delivery vehicle using DNA aptamer-targeting ligands to deliver encapsulated drug specifically to cancer cells.  After TEMPO-mediated oxidation of starch hydroxyl moieties to carboxyl functionality, EDC-NHS chemistry linked amine-modified ss-DNA aptamers�in particular, nucleolin-targeting agent (AS1411).  Fluorescence and confocal microscopy demonstrated improved targeting using the aptamer, and we observed high cellular internalization of particles.  Different starch nanogel particle compositions with doxorubicin were used to measure the effect of hydrogel cross-link density on the drug release profile, which demonstrated potential for this property to better control both the distribution and the release of carried drug.  Further, a cell viability study demonstrated superiority over free doxorubicin.  Starch-hydrogel nanoparticle vehicles could be a cost-effective method to improve chemotherapy.

Targeted starch nanoparticles for cancer therapy

244th National Meeting (2012)

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