ABSTRACT:
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. This study focuses on the development and characterization of RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide-conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to lung cancer cells. RGD peptides, known for their high affinity for integrin receptors (such as avß3), which are overexpressed in tumor vasculature, were conjugated to the surface of SLNs to enhance cellular uptake and promote selective tumor targeting. The SLNs were prepared using high shear homogenization followed by ultrasonication, ensuring controlled drug release, stability, and biocompatibility. Characterization studies, including particle size analysis, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release, were performed to assess the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity assays on lung cancer cell lines (A549) demonstrated significant enhanced antitumor activity of RGD-conjugated SLNs compared to non-targeted formulations. The results indicate that RGD-conjugated SLNs can significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy and specificity of lung cancer treatments by enabling targeted drug delivery, making them promising candidates for future clinical applications in cancer therapy.