Preparation of Polyethylene Glycol-Poly Lactic Acid Water-Soluble Nano-Particles and Its Effect on the Proliferation, Metastasis, and Angiogenesis of Liver Cancer Cells

Abstract

The onset of the disease is secretive, and the accuracy of early diagnosis is not high. Patients will lose the opportunity of surgical treatment because of severe liver cirrhosis and cancer cell metastasis. Vanib nano-drug was prepared in this study by a polymer, which was used for in vitro research of liver cancer cells. First, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-poly lactic acid (PLA) and Vanib were dissolved in acetone to form a mixed solution, and then, water-soluble nano-particles were obtained by ultrasonic and deionized water. Then, the nano-particles were modified by iRGD and characterized by electron microscopy, DLS, and in vitro release. Besides, CCK-8, flow cytometry apoptosis test, flow cytometry cell cycle test, Transwell cell invasion and metastasis test, and angiogenesis test were applied to detect the effect of the nano-drug on the proliferation, cell metastasis, and angiogenesis of liver cancer cells. The results showed that Vanib nano-particles inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, and induced apoptosis to G1 block. What’s more, Vanib nano-particles reduced cell viability in a Caspase-dependent manner, thereby inducing cell death. The Vanib nano-particles up-regulated the expression of P21 and also inhibited the cyclins Cyclin E2 and Cycllin B, thereby blocking the cell cycle process. In addition, Vanib nano-particles and free Vanib could inhibit the activity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and angiogenesis, which proved that the prepared Vanib nano-particles could effectively curb the growth of liver cancer cells.