Drug Delivery and Translational Research - Featured Article: March 2024
Read the featured article from the March 2024 issue! (this opens in a new tab)
Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) has been shown to promote tumor growth and metastasis of glioma, rendering it as a promising therapeutic target. We engineered chitosan–gelatin microspheres loaded with P4HA1 siRNA (P4HA1 siRNA@CGM) and assessed the stability and blood compatibility. Subsequently, MTT, cell colony formation, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, gliosphere formation, tube formation, and Western blot analysis were conducted to assess the effects of P4HA1 siRNA@CGM on the biological functions against glioma. Finally, 125I-labeled P4HA1 siRNA@CGM was injected into the xenograft mice, radionuclide imaging was recorded, and Ki67 and TUNEL staining was performed to assess the effects of P4HA1 siRNA@CGM on tumor growth and apoptosis of glioma in vivo. The results showed that P4HA1 siRNA@CGM markedly inhibited the proliferation, metastasis, gliosphere formation, protein levels of interstitial markers (N-cadherin and vimentin) and transcription factors of EMT in glioma cells, and tube formation in human brain microvascular endothelial cells to a greater extent compared to P4HA1 siRNA. The findings underscore the feasibility of P4HA1 siRNA@CGM in the clinical treatment of glioma.