Covalent binding of 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid (TOFA) and c(RGDfK) and its co-delivery with Lipusu, a novel synergistic strategy to inhibit the proliferation of nasopharyngeal cancer.

As the world's only commercially available paclitaxel liposome, Lipusu (Lip) has been clinically used in chemotherapy for >20 years, but the design concept of Lip remains largely unchanged since its initial development. Based on the study of Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase 1 (ACC1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), we proposed the concept of next-generation liposomes (NGL) utilizing lipid demand balance. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of ACC1 and integrin αVβ3 as NPC targets, and designed 10 conjugates of 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid (TOFA) and c(RGDfK) that can bind to Lip. Considering the results of chemical parameter prediction, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation (MD) and other aspects, we finally selected and synthesized the compound F, and successfully constructed F-Lip by simple incubation method. Compared with Lip, F-Lip showed stronger toxicity in both HONE-1 cells and corresponding tumor-bearing mice. In conclusion, by regulating the balance of lipid demand, the toxicity of Lip can be improved so as to achieve the goal of inhibiting the proliferation of NPC. This study provides a new model for the future design and development of Lip.