Improved biological half-life and anti-tumor activity of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) using PEG-exposed nanoparticles.

Abstract

TRAIL has received considerable attention as a potential anti-cancer agent due to its specific ability to target tumors. However, recombinant TRAIL has several limitations, such as, its short biological half-life, its inherent instability, and its potential hepatotoxicity. In this study, we developed a sustained release nanoparticle formulation of TRAIL and investigated its therapeutic effects in tumor-bearing mice. TRAIL-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by mixing PEGylated heparin (PEG-HE), poly-L-lysine (PLL), and TRAIL. NPs prepared by the ionic interaction between polymer and TRAIL showed uniform spherical structures of diameter 213.3 ± 9.7 nm and a surface charge of 5.33 ± 1.2 mV. An in vitro study of the bioactivity of TRAIL in NPs showed that TRAIL-loaded PEG-HE/PLL NPs (TRAIL-PEG-NPs) were slightly less cytotoxic than TRAIL in vitro. To investigate pharmacokinetic parameters, TRAIL and TRAIL-PEG-NPs were intravenously injected into SD rats. The PEG-NP-based formulation demonstrated a 28.3 fold greater half-life than TRAIL alone. To evaluate the anti-tumor effect, TRAIL, TRAIL-loaded HE/PLL NPs (TRAIL-NPs), and TRAIL-PEG-NPs were intravenously injected into HCT-116 tumor-bearing BALB/c athymic mice. The TRAIL-PEG-NP formulation efficiently suppressed tumor growth (>70%), and histological findings confirmed that NPs induced significant tumor cell apoptosis without inducing liver toxicity. The PEG-exposed NP fabrication method applied in this study could be widely applied to protein and peptide delivery systems.

• Authors: Sung Mook Lim, Tae Hyung Kim, Hai Hua Jiang, Chan Woong Park, Seulki Lee, Xiaoyuan Chen, Kang Choon Lee
• Journal: Biomaterials (Biomaterials) Vol. 32 Issue 13 Pg. 3538-46 (May 2011) ISSN: 1878-5905 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21306770 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Heparin

Topics

• Animals
• Colorectal Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• HCT116 Cells
• Heparin (chemistry)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• NIH 3T3 Cells
• Nanoparticles (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Polyethylene Glycols (chemistry)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
• TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (chemistry, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)