Novel dual-targeted modified polyester albumin nano-carriers enhance the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes after encapsulating lenvatinib

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Lenvatinib (LEN) is a potentially effective HCC-targeted drug, but poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, drug resistance, and clinical side effects hinder its satisfactory efficacy. In this study, we proposed to prepare a novel epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)/Vimentin dual-targeting modified polyester albumin nanocarriers to load LEN (EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs) to improve the therapeutic efficacy of the drug for HCC. The results showed that the EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs had a particle size of (236.08 ± 6.39) nm, a potential of (38.93 ± 7.15) mv, and were characterized by nanovesicles, with an encapsulation rate of (97.57 ± 2.43) % and a drug loading capacity of (11.16 ± 1.75) %. EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs can specifically target HCC cells and slowly release LEN drugs, thus effectively inhibiting the growth of HCC cells; in addition, they have good anti-tumor effects and biosafety in vivo. In this study, EpCAM/Vimentin-LEN-ANs were successfully prepared, which can carry LEN and then target into HCC cells to achieve precise delivery and release of drugs, improve anti-tumor efficacy and alleviate the toxic side effects of anti-tumor drugs on the organism, which has a better potential for application and clinical translation in the treatment of HCC.