Fig. 7.

Cetuximab-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MNP) loaded with PLK1 siRNA (siPLK1) or C-siPLK1 for EGFR-targeted delivery. a radiosensitization strategy with combined EGFR antibody and siPLK1-nanoparticles. The C-siPLK1-NPs bind to EGFR receptors and are endocytosed to result in loss of EGFR and phosphorylated EGFR to initiate DNA repair, while reducing DNA damage due to radiation and releasing the siPLK1 to cytosol. The siPLK1 reduces the PLK1 protein expression and arrests cell arrest at G2/M, thereby sensitizing the cells to radiation damage. b TEM microscopic images of 50-nm MNPs. c Layer-by-layer surface-conjugated nanoparticles. d Hydrodynamic diameter of C-NP (solid lines) and without siRNA(dotted lines). e Particle size, zeta potential and other characteristics like drug loading and antibody conjugation of C-siRNA-NPs expressed as mean ± SD. f IVIS imaging in orthotopic lung tumor-induced mice after being treated with C-siPLK1-NP, C-siSCR-NP, or saline. g Tumor growth determined using photon flux in prone and supine position of the treated mice (n = 7–8). Arrows indicating days of treatment. (H) Body weight of mice post-therapy.

Adapted from Ref. [322] with permission from Elsevier, Copyright 2019