2. Academic Validation
  3. Dual-Mode Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using RGD Cyclopeptide-Modified Liposomes Loaded with Ce6/DOX

Dual-Mode Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using RGD Cyclopeptide-Modified Liposomes Loaded with Ce6/DOX

  • Int J Nanomedicine. 2025 Mar 27:20:3845-3860. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S509387.
Wentao Xu # 1 2,  Jiajia Zheng # 1 2,  Jiaqi Zhang # 1,  Houhui Shi # 3,  Weili Peng 1,  Yang Liu 4,  Guodong Feng 5,  Yuguang Wang 2,  Yi-Jun Liang 6,  Jun Chen 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Cancer Center, Department of Interventional Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.
  • 4 Cancer Center, Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, People's Republic of China.
  • 5 Department of Radiology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
  • 6 School of Medicine & School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Foshan University, Foshan, People's Republic of China.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 40165796 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S509387
Abstract

Background: Liver Cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers globally, with approximately 90% of primary liver cancers being hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). However, current systemic treatment options (whether monotherapy or combination therapy) are limited and offer only modest survival benefits. The effectiveness of a drug is largely determined by its concentration at the target site. Therefore, an effective drug delivery system must enhance drug accumulation at the target site, enable selective drug release there, and facilitate escape from lysosomes.

Methods: cRGD-Lipo@Ce6/DOX was prepared by modifying c(RGDyK) onto the surface of drug-loaded liposomes containing Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and doxorubicin (DOX) through an amide reaction. The targeting capability and uptake mechanism of cRGD-Lipo@Ce6/DOX for HCC were analyzed using flow cytometry. To investigate drug release mechanisms and changes in subcellular distribution following ultrasound stimulation, further studies were conducted. The therapeutic efficacy and biosafety of this dual-modality therapy were then evaluated in an HCC subcutaneous tumor-bearing mouse model.

Results: The prepared nanocomplex exhibits a surface charge of -9.91 ± 2.94 mV and an apparent size of 118.07 ± 1.46 nm. Modification of the RGD cyclic peptide on the surface of the drug-carrying liposomes enhanced the targeting and penetration efficiency for HCC. In vitro experiments on drug uptake mechanisms and release demonstrated that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generated by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) promote effective drug release from the carrier into the non-lysosomal region. The combined SDT and chemotherapy treatment achieved a 94% tumor inhibition rate and showed excellent biosafety in HCC subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion: Therefore, the effectiveness of the combination treatment strategy utilizing SDT in conjunction with chemotherapy provides additional treatment options for patients with HCC.

Keywords

dual-modality therapy; hepatocellular carcinomas; lysosomal escape; sonodynamic therapy.

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