Preparation of oat galactolipid and anti-liver cancer effects of oat galactolipid-modified curcumin-loaded liver targeting vesicle.

INTRODUCTION

The mortality rate for liver cancer is extremely high but clinical treatments have not made much progress, so it is necessary to develop anticancer agents with lower toxicities and more effective liver-targeting drug delivery systems (LTDDSs). At present, LTDDSs mediated by the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) show excellent effects at improving the liver-targeting and antitumor effects of drugs. However, the galactosyl ligands are typically prepared by chemical synthesis and have some shortcomings. The present work endeavors to explore the influences of plant galactolipids as natural galactosyl ligands for LTDDSs.

METHODS

Plant galactolipids were extracted from oat bran, and their characteristics were tested. Then, oat-galactolipid-modified curcumin-loaded liver-targeting vesicles (GCLTVs) and curcumin-loaded vesicles were prepared, which were used in a comparative study of the liver-targeting and liver anticancer effects and .

RESULT

The experimental results show that the oat galactolipids and GCLTVs were prepared successfully. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, acid, ester, and saponification values of the oat galactolipids were 14.89, 47.22, 237.09, and 284.30, respectively. The morphology of the GCLTV was spherical, with an average particle size of 64.47 nm and average potential of -19.73 mV. The optimal proportion of galactolipids in the GCLTVs was selected as 30%. Compared with the curcumin-loaded vesicles, GCLTV uptakes were significantly higher at 1, 2, and 4 h; further, the galactolipid modification significantly improved the liver-targeting capability of the GCLTVs . The inhibitory effects of the GCLTVs on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were significantly higher than those of the curcumin-loaded vesicles after 24 and 48 h. The antitumor effects of GCLTVs based on H&E staining results on liver tissues were stronger than those of the curcumin-loaded vesicles, and the expressions of P53, Bcl-2, and Bax were correspondingly more significant.

CONCLUSION

The GCLTVs show excellent liver-targeting capabilities and . Compared to the curcumin-loaded vesicles, the cytotoxicity and anticancer effects of the GCLTVs were significantly higher and . Thus, oat galactolipids could be used as a type of natural ligand of the ASGPR and a membrane material that would be beneficial for liver-targeting nanopreparations.