Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is one of the most common benign tumors in women that often leads to many reproductive complications. Suicide genetherapy was suggested as a promising approach for UL treatment. In the present study, we describe iRGD ligand-conjugated cysteine-rich peptide carrier RGD1-R6 for targeted DNA delivery to αvβ3 integrin-expressing primary UL cells. The physico-chemical properties, cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency and specificity of DNA/RGD1-R6 polyplexes were investigated. TheHSV-1thymidine kinase encoding plasmid delivery to PANC-1pancreatic carcinoma cells and primary UL cells resulted in significant suicide gene therapy effects. Subsequent ganciclovir treatment decreased cells proliferative activity, induced of apoptosis and promoted cells death.The obtained results allow us to concludethatthe developed RGD1-R6 carrier can be considered a promising candidate for suicide gene therapy of uterine leiomyoma.

Original languageEnglish
Article number202
Pages (from-to)1-27
Number of pages27
JournalPharmaceutics
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021
Externally publishedYes

    Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

    Research areas

  • DNA delivery, Gene therapy, IRGD, Integrins, Pancreatic carcinoma, Peptide-based carriers, Thymidine kinase, Uterine leiomyoma, thymidine kinase, gene therapy, peptide-based carriers, integrins, pancreatic carcinoma, iRGD, uterine leiomyoma

ID: 87519780