iRGD-Targeted Physalis Mottle Virus Like Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Delivery

Abstract

Nanomedicine provides a promising platform for the molecular treatment of disease. An ongoing challenge in nanomedicine is the targeted delivery of intravenously administered nanoparticles to particular tissues, which is of special interest in cancer. Herein, the conjugation of iRGD peptides is shown, which specifically targets tumor neovasculature, to the surface of Physalis mottle virus (PhMV)-like nanoparticles, leading to rapid cellular uptake in vitro and tumor homing in vivo. It is then shown that iRGD-targeted PhMV loaded with the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin shows increased potency in a murine flank xenograft model of cancer. The results validate that PhMV-like nanoparticles can be targeted to tumors through iRGD-peptide conjugation and suggest that iRGD-PhMV provides a promising platform for the targeted delivery of molecular cargo to tumors.