Abstract:
The aim of this study was to study the synthesis of two folate conjugates and their application in the preparation of folate targeted liposome, and to investigate their targeting effect in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line
in vitro. In this study, Folate-PEG-Cholesteryl hemisuccinate(Folate-PEG
2000-CHEMS and Folate-PEG
4000-CHEMS)were synthesized by linking folate and cholesterol succinate with two kinds of PEG materials. Structures of Folate-PEG
2000-CHEMS and Folate-PEG
4000-CHEMS were characterized by
1H NMR and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. Calcein was selected as the model drug, and calcein liposomes FA-PEG
2000-L and FA-PEG
4000-L were prepared by film dispersion method using Folate-PEG
2000-CHEMS and Folate-PEG
4000-CHEMS, respectively. The particle size and Zeta potential of FA-PEG
2000-L and FA-PEG
4000-L were measured by laser particle size analyzer. The drug delivery effect of FA-PEG
2000-L and FA-PEG
4000-L was evaluated by cellular uptake experiment in HepG2 cell line
in vitro. Flow cytometry and laser confocal scanning microscope were used to determine fluorescence in HepG2 cells
in vitro. The results showed that the average particle size of calcein liposome was (205.8 ± 10.2) nm, and the Zeta potential of calcein liposome was -(1.19 ± 0.31) mV.There was no significant difference in particle size and Zeta potential between FA-PEG
2000-L and FA-PEG
4000-L. The fluorescence intensity of FA-PEG
4000-L liposome group was about 3.6 and 3.1 times higher than that of non-targeted liposome group and FA-PEG
2000-L liposome group, with statistically significant difference (
P < 0.01). The drug delivery efficiency of FA-PEG
4000-L group in HepG2 cells was higher than that in FA-PEG
2000-L and non-targeted groups, and the results indicated that Folate-PEG
4000-CHEMS can promote the uptake of liposome by HepG2 cells
in vitro. All in all, Folate-PEG
4000-CHEMS could be applied in the preparation of folate targeted liposome, which could promote the uptake of liposome by HepG2 cells.