Abstract
Purpose :
Folate carrier mediated system could be potentially used for the targeted delivery of folate conjugated prodrugs and folate decorated nanoparticles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of folate receptor (FR-α) and proton coupled folate transporter (PCFT) on rabbit primary corneal epithelial cell line (rPCEC) and human corneal epithelial cell line (HCEC).
Methods :
Qualitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) analysis was performed to confirm the existence of FR-α and PCFT on rPCEC and HCEC cell lines at mRNA level. Protein expression was confirmed by western blot analysis. Co-localization and expression of FR-α and PCFT on plasma membrane and nuclear membranes was further confirmed by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).
Results :
FR-α and PCFT were abundantly expressed in the rPCEC and HCEC cell lines at mRNA level. Western blot analysis had proved the protein expression for FR-α and PCFT in rPCEC and HCEC cell lines. CLSM studies also confirmed the co-localization of FR-α and PCFT on plasma membrane and nuclear membranes in both rPCEC and HCEC cell lines.
Conclusions :
This work for the first time has demonstrated the expression of FR-α and PCFT in rPCEC and HCEC primary corneal cell lines. FR-α and PCFT carrier mediated expression on rabbit cornea and human cornea can be exploited for targeted delivery of folate conjugated drug/nanoparticles across cornea. Ocular drug delivery using folate carrier mediated system can increase the bioavailability of small molecules with permeability and solubility issues.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.