Abstract
EGF-labeled reverse phase evaporation vesicles (EGF-REV) encapsulating bleomycin (BLM) have been prepared and their selective uptake and cytotoxic activity have been evaluated using A431 and Swiss/3T3 cells which are over-expressing EGF-receptors on cell surface and no EGF-receptor, respectively. EGF has been bound to REV surface as active form, and EGF-REV has been taken up selectively by A431 cells via EGF-receptors, but not by Swiss/3T3 cells. Cytotoxic activity of EGF-REV encapsulating BLM (EGF-REV-BLM) for A431 cells was superior to that of normal liposomes containing BLM, and this effect was dependent on the treatment time. However, this cytotoxic activity of EGF-REV-BLM could not be observed in Swiss/3T3 cells, These findings suggested that EGF-REV is a useful drug carrier for squamous carcinoma which are over-expressing EGF-receptors on cell surface.
