Low-density Lipoprotein-mediated Delivery of Docosahexaenoic Acid Selectively Kills Murine Liver Cancer Cells

Overview

Journal Nanomedicine (Lond)

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2014 Jan 9

PMID 24397600

Citations 20

Authors

Lacy Reynolds

Rohit S Mulik

Xiaodong Wen

Archana Dilip

Ian R Corbin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: The natural omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has recently been credited for possessing anticancer properties. Herein, we investigate the cytotoxic actions of DHA-loaded low-density lipoprotein (LDL) nanoparticles in normal and liver cancer cells.

Materials & Methods: LDL-DHA nanoparticles were prepared and subjected to extensive biophysical characterization. The therapeutic utility of LDL-DHA nanoparticles was evaluated in normal and malignant murine hepatocyte cell lines, TIB-73 and TIB-75, respectively.

Results & Discussion: The engineered LDL-DHA nanoparticles possessed enhanced physical and oxidative stabilities over native LDL and free DHA. Dose-response studies showed that therapeutic doses of LDL-DHA nanoparticles that completely killed TIB-75 were innocuous to TIB-73. The selective induction of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species in the cancer cells was shown to play a central role in LDL-DHA nanoparticle-mediated cytotoxicity.

Conclusion: In summary, these findings indicate that LDL-DHA nanoparticles show great promise as a selective anticancer agent against hepatocellular carcinoma.

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