Multifunctional magnetic co-delivery system coated with polymer mPEG-PLL-FA for nasopharyngeal cancer targeted therapy and MR imaging

The gene and drug co-delivery system has become one of the primary strategies to overcome cancers. Here, we designed a multifunctional magnetic co-delivery system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma-targeted therapy and MR imaging. Aldehyde sodium alginate (ASA) was used to decorate the oxide iron and load cisplain through coordinate bond to form a core complex. The polymer shell poly(l-lysine)-methoxy-polyethylene glycol-folate was used to coat the core complex through electric interaction to give this nano-medicine a target ability. And this polymer could also give the nano-medicine abilities to adhere and protect DNA, and enhance its solubleness in water. After being transfected with this nano-medicine, the plasmids which contain cancer suppressor gene TFPI2 could enter and express in HNE-1 cells. It caused a higher death and apoptosis rate, inhibited nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells’ migration and cloning by the synergic effect together with cisplain. Besides, clear images of this nano-medicine could be got under T2 MR imaging. This magnetic co-delivery system demonstrates a potential as a powerful multifunctional vector for drug delivery and gene vector applications in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.