Selective eradication of human non-small cell lung cancer cells using aptamer-decorated nanoparticles harboring a cytotoxic drug cargo

Targeted cancer therapy is currently the leading modality to enhance treatment selectivity and efficacy, as well as to minimize untoward toxicity to healthy tissues. Herein, we devised and studied nanoparticles (NPs) composed of the biocompatible block-copolymer PEG-PCL entrapping the hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX), which are targeted to human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. To achieve selective NSCLC targeting, these NPs were decorated with single-stranded oligonucleotide-based S15 aptamers (S15-APTs), which we have recently shown to serve as efficient tumor cell targeting ligands. Prepared without using surfactants, these 15 nm PEG-PCL/PTX NPs entered NSCLC cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. These NPs demonstrated efficient encapsulation of PTX, high selectivity to- and potent eradication of human A549 NSCLC cells, with a remarkable half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.03 μM PTX. In contrast, very high IC50 values of 1.7, 4.2, 43, 87, and 980 µM PTX were obtained towards normal human bronchial epithelial BEAS2B, cervical carcinoma HeLa, colon adenocarcinoma CaCo-2, neonatal foreskin fibroblast FSE, and human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells, respectively. These results demonstrate 2–5 orders of magnitude difference in the selective cytotoxicity towards NSCLCs, reflecting a potentially outstanding therapeutic window. Moreover, the dual utility of aptamer-decorated NPs for both drug stabilization and selective tumor targeting was studied by increasing APT concentrations during NP “decoration”. The optimal aptamer density on the surface of NPs for selective targeting, for high fluorescence diagnostic signal and for maintaining small particle size to enable endocytosis, was achieved by using 30 nM APTs during NP decoration. Collectively, our findings suggest that these APT-decorated NPs hold great preclinical promise in selective targeting and eradication of human NSCLC cells without harming normal tissues.