Silk Fibroin Nanoparticle Functionalization with Arg-Gly-Asp Cyclopentapeptide Promotes Active Targeting for Tumor Site-Specific Delivery.

ABSTRACT: Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-based cyclopentapeptides (cRGDs) have a high affinity towards integrin αvβ3 and αvβ5, which are overexpressed by many tumor cells. Here, curcumin-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) have been functionalized on the surface with cRGD to provide active targeting towards tumor cells; a "click reaction" between the RGD-based cyclopentapeptide carrying an azide group and triple-bond-functionalized nanoparticles has been exploited. Both naked and functionalized SFNs were less than 200 nm in diameter and showed a round-shaped morphology but, after functionalization, SFNs increased in size and protein molecular weight. The functionalization of SFNs' surfaces with cRGD provided active internalization by cells overexpressing integrin receptors. At the lowest concentration teste

SUBMITTER: Bari E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7967211 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature