Ovarian Cancer Therapy by VSVMP Gene Mediated by a Paclitaxel-Enhanced Nanoparticle

Nanoparticles have great promise for gene delivery. However, the transfection efficiency of nanoparticle-based gene delivery systems is always unsatisfied to meet the requirement of effective gene therapy. Herein, we used low-dosage paclitaxel to enhance a nanoscaled gene delivery system that was self-assembled from N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammoniummethyl sulfate and monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(d,l-lactide) (DPP), creating a paclitaxel-encapsulated DPP (P-DPP) nanoparticle. The encapsulated low-dosage paclitaxel significantly improved the gene delivery efficiency of the DPP nanoparticles against multiple cancer cells, in some of which the transfection efficiency is as high as 92%. By the P-DPP nanoparticle, vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein (VSVMP) that could induce cell apoptosis was delivered to treat ovarian cancer. The encapsulation of paclitaxel in DPP nanoparticles increased the expression of VSVMP, enhancing VSVMP to induce antiproliferation and apoptosis in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Intraperitoneal administration of P-DPP-delivered VSVMP effectively inhibited the intraperitoneal metastasis of SKOV3 ovarian cancer, which was more efficient than DPP-delivered VSVMP. Moreover, it was found that the tumor cell apoptosis induction, tumor cell proliferation inhibition, and tumor angiogenesis suppression were involved in the anticancer mechanism of this nanocomplex. Our data suggest that the encapsulation of low-dosage paclitaxel can enhance the gene delivery efficiency of the DPP nanoparticles against multiple cancer cells and exert a synergistic anticancer effect with VSVMP gene in ovarian cancer treatment. The VSVMP gene therapy delivered by the paclitaxel-enhanced nanoparticle has potential application in ovarian cancer therapy.