Thermo- and pH-responsive targeted lipid-coated mesoporous nano silica platform for dual delivery of paclitaxel and gemcitabine to overcome HER2-positive breast cancer

In the current study, a new monoclonal antibody conjugated dual stimuli lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (L-MSNs) platform was developed and investigated for specific co-delivery of the paclitaxel (PTX) and gemcitabine (Gem) to cancer cells and preventing their side effects during the treatment process. First, MSNs were synthesized and then coated with as-prepared pH-, and thermo-sensitive niosomes to produce L-MSNs. For this aim, Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was used to create thermo-sensitivity, and 1, 2-Distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine -Citraconic Anhydride-Polyethylene Glycol (DSPE-CA-PEG) polymers were prepared and incorporated to the lipid layer for creation of pH-sensitivity. In the next step, trastuzumab as a monoclonal antibody (mAb) was conjugated to the maleimide groups of the 1, 2-Distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine DSPE-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-maleimide agents in the lipid bilayer via a disulfide bond. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were utilized to characterize the synthesized particles before and after surface modification. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading efficiency (LE%) of the particles were also evaluated. Additionally, the drug release study and MTT assay were done to evaluate the bioactivity potential of the fabricated platforms. The results of DLS and zeta potential measurements revealed an average size of 200 nm and a neutral zeta potential of about -1 mV for mAb-L-MSNs. Also, the FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of mAb-L-MSNs. Moreover, SEM analysis showed spherical-shaped MSNs with amorphous structure confirmed by XRD analysis, and BET test revealed ∼ 820 m2/g specific surface area and pore about 5 nm in size. The values of EE% and LE% of PTX were 90.3 % and 26.7 %, while these values for GEM were 89.5 % and 38.8 % in the co-loaded form, respectively. The thermo-pH-sensitivity examination showed approximately 500 nm of size increase after the change of pH and temperature from 7.4 and 37˚C to 5 and 42˚C. The release profile showed a pH-, and thermo-dependence manner, which led to about 89 % and 95 % of PTX and GEM released from the co-loaded platform at a pH of 5 and 42 °C while these values were 31.1 % and 32.2 % at pH of 7.4 and 37˚C, respectively. MTT assay data presented that when the mAb-L-co-loaded-MSNs platform containing 250 µg/mL drug was used, about 92 % of cells died in human epidermal receptors (HER2)-positive breast cancer cells (SKBR3), while just about 4 % of HER2-negative normal cells were killed. However, the growth inhibition rate of SKBR3 cells was caused by empty-mAb-L-MSNs, pure PTX and GEM combination were 9 % and 87 %, respectively. Moreover, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the pure PTX, pure GEM, and mAb-coloaded-L-MSNs were 33, 17.6, and 6.5 µg/mL. The synergic effect of co-encapsulation of PTX and GEM in addition to trastuzumab conjugated L-MSNs was confirmed by a combinational index (CI) of 0.34. Therefore, this strategy leads to specific targeted drug delivery to cancer cells using a key-lock interaction between the trastuzumab and HER-2 receptors on the cancer cell membrane which stimuli the endocytosis of the particles to the cells followed by the destruction of the lipid layer in the acidic pH and the temperature of the lysosome, leading to enhanced release of PTX and GEM (pH of 5 and 42˚C). So, this platform can be considered a suitable carrier for cancer treatment.