Improved efficacy of cisplatin delivery by peanut agglutinin‑modified liposomes in non‑small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

Globally, non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a significant threat to human health, and constitutes >80% of lung cancer cases. Cisplatin (CDDP), a commonly used drug in clinical treatment, has been the focus of research aiming to mitigate its potent toxicity through encapsulation within liposomes. However, challenges, such as a reduced drug loading efficiency and nonspecific release, have emerged as obstacles. The present study aimed to improve the encapsulation efficiency of CDDP within liposomes by pre‑preparation of CDDP and modifying the liposome surface through the incorporation of peanut agglutinin (PNA) as a ligand [CDDP‑loaded PNA‑modified liposomes (CDDP‑PNA‑Lip)]. This strategy was designed to enhance the delivery of CDDP to tumour tissues, thereby reducing associated side effects. The effect of CDDP‑PNA‑Lip on the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cell lines with high MUC1 expression was elucidated through in vitro studies. Additionally, the capacity of PNA modification to augment the targeted anti‑tumour efficacy of liposomes was assessed through xenograft tumour experiments. The results indicated that in an in vitro uptake assay Rhodamine B (RhB)‑loaded PNA‑modified liposomes were taken up by cells with ~50% higher efficiency compared with free RhB. In addition, CDDP‑PNA‑Lip resulted in a 2.65‑fold enhancement of tumour suppression in vivo compared with free CDDP. These findings suggested that the encapsulation of CDDP within ligand‑modified liposomes may significantly improve its tumour‑targeting capabilities, providing valuable insights for clinical drug development.