Octreotide-conjugated PAMAM for targeted delivery to somatostatin receptors over-expressed tumor cells

AbstractPurpose: An octreotide-conjugated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer was synthesized and employed as nanocarriers of methotrexate (MTX), for targeting to the somatostatin receptors over-expressed tumor cells.Methods: PAMAM–PEG–octreotide (PPO) and PAMAM–PEG (PPG) were synthesized and characterized. The cellular uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled PPO (PPO-FITC) and PPG (PPG-FITC) were investigated. The cytotoxicity of MTX and MTX nanoparticles were conducted in the MCF-7 cells. Besides, the pharmacokinetics studies on MTX nanoparticles were carried out in rats.Results: The structure of PPO was verified by NMR detection and the diameter was 11.05 ± 1.80 nm, with the amount of MTX encapsulated by PPO was 30 (molecule/molecule). MTX nanoparticles possessed significantly higher cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells compared with free MTX, especially the PPO/MTX nanoparticles. Correspondingly, the PPO-FITC carrier had higher cellular uptake efficiency compared to PPG-FITC. In addition, pharmac...