Clinical Report: Folic Acid-Modified Liposomes for Coencapsulation of Doxorubicin and Curcumin

Overview

This study presents a novel folic acid receptor-targeted liposomal system designed for the co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin to combat drug resistance in glioma. The findings demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake and significant reduction in tumor volume in xenograft models, indicating potential for improved therapeutic efficacy.

Background

Multidrug resistance (MDR) significantly limits the effectiveness of doxorubicin in glioma treatment, with over 60% of patients developing resistance. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a primary mechanism of this resistance, leading to reduced drug accumulation in tumor cells. Targeted drug delivery systems, such as folic acid-modified liposomes, may offer a solution by enhancing drug uptake and overcoming barriers like the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• The folic acid ligand enabled selective targeting of glioma cells overexpressing folic acid receptors.
• Dox/Cur-Lip@FA showed a 3.56-fold increase in cellular uptake in doxorubicin-resistant C6 cells compared to non-targeted formulations.
• Curcumin effectively downregulated P-glycoprotein expression, restoring doxorubicin sensitivity.
• The liposomal formulation exhibited sustained drug release kinetics.
• In vivo studies demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume compared to free drugs and non-targeted liposomes.

Clinical Implications

The use of folic acid-modified liposomes for co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin may enhance treatment outcomes in glioma patients by overcoming drug resistance. This approach could improve drug accumulation in tumors while minimizing systemic toxicity, warranting further clinical investigation.

Conclusion

Folic acid-functionalized liposomes represent a promising strategy for enhancing the efficacy of glioma treatment by targeting drug-resistant cells and improving drug delivery across the BBB. Further studies are needed to validate these findings in clinical settings.

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