Preferential uptake of glucose-functionalized liposomes by cancer cells

Liposomes are a promising drug delivery system, owing to their biocompatibility and ability to efficiently encapsulate and protect a wide range of molecules for medical applications. Active targeting of the liposomes is typically performed by surface modification, which enables delivery of the liposomes to a specific target tissue. Tumor cells are characterized by high glucose demand and high metabolic activity, because of the increased requirement of energy to feed uncontrolled proliferation. Taking advantage of the increased glucose uptake by cancer cells, we developed a glucose-labeled liposome, which is tumor-targeted - both by recognition of over-expressed glucose transporters on tumor cells, and by the unique characteristics of tumor vasculature that allow greater accumulation of nanoparticles. In this study, glucosecoated liposome uptake was evaluated in different types of cancer cells, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We found that liposomes with glucose coating were preferentially uptaken by cancer cell lines with high metabolic activity, compared to liposomes without glucose coating. Moreover, cell lines with high metabolic activity exhibited higher uptake of liposomes with glucose coating, as compared to cell lines with low metabolic activity and to non-cancerous cell lines.