Homologous cancer cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles target drug delivery and enhance the chemotherapy efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive tract malignancy that seriously threatens human life and health. Early HCC may be treated by intervention, surgery, and internal radiotherapy, while the choice for late HCC is primarily chemotherapy to prolong patient survival. Lenvatinib (LT) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved frontline drug for the treatment of advanced liver cancer and has achieved excellent clinical efficacy. However, its poor solubility and severe side effects cannot be ignored. In this study, a bionic nanodrug delivery platform was successfully constructed. The platform consists of a core of Lenvatinib wrapped with a pH-sensitive polymer, namely, poly(β-amino ester)-polyethylene glycol-amine (PAE-PEG-NH₂), and a shell formed by a cancer cell membrane (CCM). The prepared nanodrugs have high drug loading capacity, long-term stability, good biocompatibility, and a long retention time. In addition, the targeting effect of tumor cell membranes and the pH-responsive characteristics of the polymer materials enable them to precisely target tumor cells and achieve responsive release in the tumor microenvironment, which makes them suitable for effective drug delivery. In vivo experiments revealed that the nanodrug showed superior tumor accumulation and therapeutic effects in subcutaneous tumor mice model and could effectively eliminate tumors within 21 days. As a result, it opens up a new way to reduce side effects and improve the specific therapeutic effect of first-line clinical medications to treat tumors.

Homotypic cell membrane-cloaked biomimetic nanocarrier for the accurate photothermal-chemotherapy treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Tumor recurrence in patients after surgery severely reduces the survival rate of surgical patients. Targeting and killing recurrent tumor cells and tissues is extremely important for the cancer treatment.

RESULTS

Herein, we designed a nano-biomimetic photothermal-controlled drug-loading platform HepM-TSL with good targeting ability and immunocompatibility for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. HepM-TSL can accurately target the recurrent tumor area with the aid of the cloaked homotypic cell membrane and release the chemotherapy drugs in a controlled manner. In vivo results have confirmed that HepM-TSL loaded with drugs and photosensitizer achieves the synergistic treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with good therapeutic effect and slight side effects.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, HepM-TSL provides a sound photothermal-chemotherapy synergistic strategy for the treatment of other recurrent cancers besides of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.