Co-delivery of docetaxel and curcumin prodrug via dual-targeted nanoparticles with synergistic antitumor activity against prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose Combination therapy is increasingly used as a primary cancer treatment regimen. In this report, we designed EGFR peptide decorated nanoparticles (NPs) to co-deliver docetaxel (DTX) and pH sensitive curcumin (CUR) prodrug for the treatment of prostate cancer. Results EGFR peptide (GE11) targeted, pH sensitive, DTX and CUR prodrug NPs (GE11-DTX-CUR NPs) had an average diameter of 167 nm and a zeta potential of −37.5 mV. The particle size of the NPs was adequately maintained in serum and a sustained drug release pattern was observed. Improved inhibition of cancer cell and tumor tissue growth was shown in the GE11-DTX-CUR NPs group compared to the other groups. Conclusion It can be summarized that DTX and CUR prodrug could be delivered into tumor cells simultaneously by the GE 11 targeting and the EPR effect of NPs. The resulting GE11-DTX-CUR NPs is a promising system for the synergistic antitumor treatment of prostate cancer.