Abstract
Developing biomimetic nanoparticles without loss of the integrity of proteins remains a major challenge in cancer chemotherapy. Here, we develop a biocompatible tumor-cell-exocytosed exosome-biomimetic porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs) as drug carrier for targeted cancer chemotherapy. Exosome-sheathed doxorubicin-loaded PSiNPs (DOX@E-PSiNPs), generated by exocytosis of the endocytosed DOX-loaded PSiNPs from tumor cells, exhibit enhanced tumor accumulation, extravasation from blood vessels and penetration into deep tumor parenchyma following intravenous administration. In addition, DOX@E-PSiNPs, regardless of their origin, possess significant cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in both bulk cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs). These properties endow DOX@E-PSiNPs with great in vivo enrichment in total tumor cells and side population cells with features of CSCs, resulting in anticancer activity and CSCs reduction in subcutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic tumor models. These results provide a proof-of-concept for the use of exosome-biomimetic nanoparticles exocytosed from tumor cells as a promising drug carrier for efficient cancer chemotherapy.
Highlights
Developing biomimetic nanoparticles without loss of the integrity of proteins remains a major challenge in cancer chemotherapy
Luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs) were prepared by electrochemical etching of silicon wafers, lift-off of PSi film, ultrasonication, centrifugation and activation of luminescence by heating in an aqueous solution
The hydrodynamic diameter of PSiNPs was ca. 150 nm measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS, Supplementary Fig. 1a)
Summary
Developing biomimetic nanoparticles without loss of the integrity of proteins remains a major challenge in cancer chemotherapy. We develop a biocompatible tumor-cell-exocytosed exosome-biomimetic porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs) as drug carrier for targeted cancer chemotherapy. DOX@E-PSiNPs, regardless of their origin, possess significant cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in both bulk cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) These properties endow DOX@E-PSiNPs with great in vivo enrichment in total tumor cells and side population cells with features of CSCs, resulting in anticancer activity and CSCs reduction in subcutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic tumor models. DOX@E-PSiNPs exhibit enhanced tumor accumulation, extravasation from blood vessels and deep penetration into tumor parenchyma These features of DOX@E-PSiNPs result in their greater in vivo enrichment in total tumor cells and side population cells with characteristics of CSCs33,34, generating remarkable anticancer and CSCs killing activity in subcutaneous, orthotopic and metastatic tumors (Fig. 1b). Our study provides a approach for cancer therapy by using exosome-biomimetic nanoparticles exocytosed from tumor cells as drug carriers to efficiently deliver anticancer drug
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
