In vitro and in vivo suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma growth by midkine-antisense oligonucleotide-loaded nanoparticles

AIM:To synthesize antisense oligonucleotides (ASODNs) of midkine (MK), package the ASODNs with nanoparticles, and to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth using these nanoparticles.METHODS: HepG2 cell proliferation was analyzed in vitro using the 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium, inner salt assay. The in vivo activity of nanoparticles delivering the MK-ASODNs was analyzed by histopathological and immunohistochemical staining and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The in vitro proliferation of HepG2 cells was signif icantly inhibited by the nanoparticles packaged with MK-ASODNs (NANO-ASODNs). Furthermore, the NANO- ASODNs signif icantly inhibited the growth of HCC in the mouse model. CONCLUSION: NANO-ASODNs can significantly suppress the growth of HCC in vitro and in vivo.