The antitumor effect of folic acid conjugated-Auricularia auricular polysaccharide-cisplatin complex on cervical carcinoma cells in nude mice

A tumor-targeted, folic acid (FA) conjugated-Auricularia auricular polysaccharide (AAP) -cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) complex (FA-AAP-CDDP) was used for cervical carcinoma chemotherapy. The drug delivery system was able to enhance the antitumor potency of CDDP, and to reduce the toxic side effects of CDDP. The kidney of mice treated by FA-AAP-CDDP complex had higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and lower malondialdehyde. FA-AAP-CDDP complex could induce more interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interferon-γ in mice. In addition, the FA-AAP-CDDP complex significantly promoted the expression of Bax and caspase-3 protein, but inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 protein, which activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of tumor cells in nude mice. Moreover, the FA-AAP-CDDP complex had a higher intratumoral accumulation, was lower in the kidneys. This study may provide a new direction for folate receptor targeted polymers to improve anti-tumor activity, but reduce side effects of CDDP.