Creation of Novel Nanocomplexes to Target Head and Neck Cancer

Objective: It is critically important to develop novel targeted strategies that can efficiently inhibit specific molecular pathways in tumor growth and development. The study investigates the potential of adenoviral/chitosan-PEG nanocomplexes with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the targeting and treatment of EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpressing head and neck cancers (HNC).Method: A construct with GFP-expressing adenoviral vector was coated with a Chitosan-PEG-EGF nanocomplex. The EGFR-expressing HNC tumor cells labeled with TdTomato were co-cultured with CHO tumor cells with coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), and without EGFR. Fluorescence microscopy was used to detect GFP expression after the treatment with targeted adenoviral/chitosan nanocomplex.Results: As compared to wild-type adenovirus, the chitosan-PEG polymer coating cloaks the viral nanoparticle and prevents interaction with cells through the native CAR-mediated mechanisms. This significantly reduces nonspecific infection. Due to the...