To develop a folic acid receptor-targeted liposomal system for the co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin to overcome multidrug resistance in glioma, addressing a critical barrier in glioma treatment.
Key Findings:
FA ligand enabled selective tumor targeting by binding to overexpressed FAR.
Curcumin enhanced Dox efficacy by downregulating P-gp-mediated drug efflux.
Dox/Cur-Lip@FA exhibited a uniform size of 112.5 ± 3.8 nm, a zeta potential of -7.85 ± 0.62 mV, and high dual-drug encapsulation efficiency.
Targeted liposomes achieved 3.56-fold higher cellular uptake in Dox-resistant C6 cells compared to non-targeted formulations.
In vivo, Dox/Cur-Lip@FA induced a 71.19% reduction in tumor volume, significantly outperforming free drugs and non-targeted liposomes.
Interpretation:
The FA-functionalized codelivery system combines active targeting with MDR reversal, showing improved cellular uptake and antitumor efficacy, which may enhance treatment outcomes in glioma.
Limitations:
Potential off-target effects of folic acid targeting and the need for further studies to assess long-term efficacy and safety.
Conclusion:
The study presents a novel FA-functionalized liposomal system that effectively targets glioma cells and reverses drug resistance, with potential for enhanced brain delivery, paving the way for improved therapeutic strategies.
