Leveraging nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells for intramedullary spinal cord tumor treatment

Intramedullary spinal cord tumor (IMSCT) is comparatively rare malignant tumor in the central nervous system and is very difficult accessible by conventional chemotherapy regimen. Currently, there are very limited researches for IMSCT treatment using nanomedicine. To fill this gap, we originally reported a targeted strategy by leveraging nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for synergistic anti-IMSCT treatment. In this study, two mode drugs paclitaxel (PTX) and metformin (MET) were co-loaded in maleimide-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolicacid) (PLGA-MAL) nanoparticles, which were further conjugated onto MSCs surface via the thioether bond formed between PLGA-MAL and MSCs without affecting the migration ability of MSCs. Owing to the excellent tumor tropism and penetrability of MSCs and good biodegradability of PLGA, the designed drug delivery platform could accurately target IMSCT sites to exert long-term synergistic antitumor efficacy, exhibiting promising research value for alternative IMSCT management beyond surgery.