scFv biofunctionalized nanoparticles to effective and safe targeting of CEA-expressing colorectal cancer cells

• Published in: Journal of nanobiotechnology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 1 - 357
• Main Authors: Silveira, Maria José, Martins, Cláudia, Cruz, Tânia, Castro, Flávia, Amorim-Costa, Ângela, Chester, Kerry, Oliveira, Maria José, Sarmento, Bruno
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 02-10-2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: 5-Fluorouracil; Antibodies; Antigens; Bioavailability; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cancer therapy; Carcinoembryonic antigen; Care and treatment; CEA (Oncology); Chemotherapy; Chromatography; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Composition; Conjugation; Cytotoxicity; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Fluorouracil; Gastrointestinal diseases; Glycoproteins; Health aspects; Internalization; Macrophages; Medical prognosis; Metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; Methods; Molecular weight; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Patient outcomes; Pharmacokinetics; Polyethylene glycol; Polylactide-co-glycolide; Polymers; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Single-chain variable fragment functionalization; Survival; Targeted therapies; Testing; Toxicity; Tumors; Vehicles; Viscosity; Portugal; United States
• ISSN: 1477-3155; 1477-3155
• DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02126-4

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with the 5 year survival rate in metastatic cases limited to 12%. The design of targeted and effective therapeutics remains a major unmet clinical need in CRC treatment. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a glycoprotein overexpressed in most colorectal tumors, may constitute a promising molecule for generating novel CEA-targeted therapeutic strategies for CRC treatment. Here, we developed a smart nanoplatform based on chemical conjugation of an anti-CEA single-chain variable fragment (scFv), MFE-23, with PLGA-PEG polymers to deliver the standard 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy to CRC cells. We confirmed the specificity of the developed CEA-targeted NPs on the internalization by CEA-expressing CRC cells, with an enhance of threefold in the cell uptake. Additionally, CEA-targeted NPs loaded with 5-FU induced higher cytotoxicity in CEA-expressing cells, after 24 h and 48 h of treatment, reinforcing the specificity of the targeted NPs. Lastly, the safety of CEA-targeted NPs loaded with 5-FU was evaluated in donor-isolated macrophages, with no relevant impact on their metabolic activity nor polarization. Altogether, this proof of concept supports the CEA-mediated internalization of targeted NPs as a promising chemotherapeutic strategy for further investigation in different CEA-associated cancers and respective metastatic sites.Authors: Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author 1 Given name: [Maria José] Last name [Silveira]. Author 7 Given name: [Maria José] Last name [Oliveira]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correctokAffiliations: Please check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary.ok