Nanoparticle-Based Co-Delivery of siRNA and Paclitaxel for Dual-Targeting of Glioblastoma

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> To explore the therapeutic effect of nanoparticle-based dual-targeting delivery of antitumor agents for glioblastoma treatment. <b>Materials & methods:</b> A hepatitis B core protein-virus-like particle (VLP)-based dual-targeting delivery system was designed with the primary brain targeting peptide TGN for blood-brain barrier penetration and tumor vascular preferred ligand RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) for glioblastoma targeting. Chemo- and gene-therapeutic agents of paclitaxel and siRNA were co-packaged inside the vehicle. <b>Results:</b> The results demonstrated efficient delivery of the packaged agents to invasive tumor sites. The combination of chemo- and gene-therapies demonstrated synergistic antitumor effects through enhancing necrosis and apoptosis, as well as being able to inhibit tumor invasion with minimal cytotoxicity. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our hepatitis B core-VLP-based dual-targeting delivery of chemo- and gene-therapeutic agents possesses a synergistic antitumor effect for glioblastoma therapy.