Cancer Cell Detection and Precision Targeting Drug Delivery by Covalently Functionalized Liposome

In diagnostics, targeting ability is still a topic of concern for cancer cell detection as well as the drug delivery process. Selective detection of cancer cells from normal cells is a highly demanding but also crucial and challenging task. Recent emergence of folic acid as a targeting ligand can improve the drug delivery systems specifically targeted to cancer cells due to the high affinity to bind the folate receptor (FR) on the surface of cancer cells. In this study, the potential of covalently conjugated folic acid-liposomes (FA-liposomes) has been applied to detect cancer cells and thereafter for targeted drug delivery. Doxorubicin (Dox) has been used as a standard anticancer drug as well as the fluorophore probe for optical detection. To make a rigid sensor probe and nanocarrier, the amine-functionalized phospholipid modifications have been assembled for liposome formation, followed by Dox-encapsulation (FA-Lip-Dox). The targeting efficiency of FA-Lip-Dox was evaluated using three cell lines: CHO (noncancerous, control), U87MG (cancerous, low FR expression), and KB (cancerous, high FR expression) for cell detection. Additionally, for targeted drug delivery, significant Dox penetration in FR-overexpressed cancerous cells has been observed by fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry, while nontargeting cells exhibited negligible drug accumulation. This targeted delivery approach aims to maximize therapeutic efficacy in malignant cells while minimizing off-target effects and toxicity in healthy cells. The study found low cytotoxicity toward normal cells, highlighting the potential use of FA-Lip-Dox as a targeted nanocarrier for cell detection and effective drug delivery in cancer treatment.