Figure 4.

Aptamer-guided nano-drugs and their applications. (A) Schematic illustration of aptamer functionalised and drug-encapsulated nanoparticles. (B) Representative results from studies by Farokhzad et al. on A10 RNA aptamer functionalised Dtxl-encapsulated PLGA-PEG nanoparticles (Dtxl-NP-Apt) and anticancer efficacy in vivo. Even a single intratumoral administration of Dtxl-NP-Apt is significantly more efficient in tumor reduction as evident from the ~6.5-fold smaller tumor volume than that in mice treated with the controls (saline, NP, or Dtxl) (a and b) and improved survival (109 days vs. 73 days in Dtxl-NP group) (c and d). Reproduced from Ref. 113, Copyright (2006), with permission from National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A..