Folate-Targeted Cholesterol-Grafted Lipo-Polymeric Nanoparticles for Chemotherapeutic Agent Delivery

Docetaxel (DTX), an FDA approved chemotherapeutic agent, is used as a first-line treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Its poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, short half-life, and effective targeting to the cancer cells limits its optimal therapeutic use. Herein, we report folate targeted amphiphilic lipopolymer grafted with cholesterol conjugated carbonate and DL-lactide prepared by microwave assisted ring opening polymerization, for the efficient actively targeted delivery of DTX. The DTX-loaded folate-targeted lipopolymeric nanoparticles (F-DTX-LPNs) prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method exhibited a smaller size of ∼115.17 nm with a PDI of 0.205 and encapsulation efficiency of >80%. Further, these lipopolymeric nanoparticles (F-DTX-LPNs) showed a good on-bench stability and sustained DTX release for 7 days. Cell-based assays in MDA-MB-231 cells revealed a significant enhancement in the intracellular uptake of folate-targeted lipopolymeric nanoparticles compared to non-targeted nanoparticles. Further, methyl beta-cyclodextrin (Mβ-CD) completely inhibited the uptake of these nanoparticles in the cells, indicating a lipid raft-mediated uptake mechanism. The developed F-DTX-LPNs showed improved cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and significant fold-change in expression levels of Bcl-2, BAX and Ki-67 as compared to non-targeted DTX-LPNs and free DTX. Further, F-DTX-LPNs showed an improved in vivo pharmacokinetic profile in Sprague Dawley rats as compared to the free DTX. The bio-imaging of ex vivo tissues demonstrated that the DiR loaded folate targeted LPNs exhibited intense signals after 24 h because of slow release of DiR dye from the nanoparticles.