Cancer Cell–Membrane Biomimetic Boron Nitride Nanospheres for Targeted Cancer Therapy

• Main Authors: Feng S, Ren Y, Li H, Tang Y, Yan J, Shen Z, Zhang H, Chen F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-03-01
• Series: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• Subjects: boron nitride nanospheres; cancer cell membrane; targeted drug delivery; chemotherapy; biomimetic
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/cancer-cellndashmembrane-biomimetic-boron-nitride-nanospheres-for-targ-peer-reviewed-article-IJN

Shini Feng,1 Yajing Ren,1 Hui Li,1 Yunfei Tang,1 Jinyu Yan,1 Zeyuan Shen,1 Huijie Zhang,2 Fuxue Chen1 1School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fuxue ChenSchool of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Nanomaterial-based drug-delivery systems allowing for effective targeted delivery of smallmolecule chemodrugs to tumors have revolutionized cancer therapy. Recently, as novel nanomaterials with outstanding physicochemical properties, boron nitride nanospheres (BNs) have emerged as a promising candidate for drug delivery. However, poor dispersity and lack of tumor targeting severely limit further applications. In this study, cancer cell–membrane biomimetic BNs were designed for targeted anticancer drug delivery.Methods: Cell membrane extracted from HeLa cells (HM) was used to encapsulate BNs by physical extrusion. Doxorubicin (Dox) was loaded onto HM-BNs as a model drug.Results: The cell-membrane coating endowed the BNs with excellent dispersibility and cytocompatibility. The drug-release profile showed that the Dox@HM-BNs responded to acid pH, resulting in rapid Dox release. Enhanced cellular uptake of Dox@HM-BNs by HeLa cells was revealed because of the homologous targeting of cancer-cell membranes. CCK8 and live/dead assays showed that Dox@HM-BNs had stronger cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, due to self-selective cellular uptake. Finally, antitumor investigation using the HeLa tumor model demonstrated that Dox@HM-BNs possessed much more efficient tumor inhibition than free Dox or [e-mail]: These findings indicate that the newly developed HM-BNs are promising as an efficient tumor-selective drug-delivery vehicle for tumor therapy.Keywords: boron nitride nanospheres, cancer-cell membrane, targeted drug delivery, chemotherapy, biomimetic