GLUT1-mediated magnetic liposomes for targeting bone metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

Bone metastatic breast cancer is a malignant tumor in bone due to the metastasis of breast cancer, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Treatment of cancer metastasized to bone is still a challenge because of the anticancer drugs lack target specificity. Finding an effective treatment for bone metastasis remains an urgent issue. In order to enhance the delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) to the bone metastases lesions, a novel glucose derivative was designed and synthesized in this work, which was used as liposome ligand to develop the magnetic liposome G-MLip (Glucose-modified magnetic liposome). The liposome could improve the drug formulations in the bone metastases mediated by glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and then target cancer cells. The PTX-loaded magnetic liposome PTX-G-MLip was prepared by the film hydration-ultrasound method. And the characterizations, such as size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, stability, hemolysis, were well evaluated. What’s more, the enhanced target ability was also investigated in vitro and in mice. The metastatic bone-targeted capacity was confirmed that the PTX concentration from PTX-G-MLip in the bone metastases lesions was markedly increased in the presence of magnetic field (MF) compared with the free PTX and other liposomes. Inspired by the enhanced targeting ability, glucose-modified magnetic liposomes could serve as an effective drug delivery system for targeting and treating bone metastases.