Gap Junction Liposomes for Efficient Delivery of Chemotherapeutics to Solid Tumors.

ABSTRACT: Chemotherapeutic delivery is limited by inefficient transport across cellular membranes. Here, we harness the cellular gap junction network to release therapeutic cargos directly into the cytosol. Specifically, cell-derived vesicles, termed connectosomes, contain gap junction transmembrane proteins that open a direct passageway to the cellular interior. Connectosomes were previously shown to substantially improve chemotherapeutic delivery in vitro. Here, we test connectosomes in vivo, using a murine breast tumor model. We demonstrate that connectosomes improve chemotherapeutic delivery to cellular targets within tumors by up to 16-fold, compared to conventional drug-loaded liposomes, suggesting an efficient alternative pathway for intracellular delivery.

SUBMITTER: Trementozzi AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8483596 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature