In this study, we explored the feasibility of biotin-mediated modified polymeric micelles for pancreatic cancer targeted photodynamic therapy. Poly (ethylene glycol)-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (mPEG2000-DSPE) served as the drug-loaded material, biotin-poly(ethylene glycol)-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (Biotin-PEG3400-DSPE) as the functional material and the polymeric micelles were prepared by a thin-film hydration method. The targeting capability of micelles was investigated by cell uptake assay in vitro and fluorescence imaging in vivo and the amounts of Biotin-PEG-DSPE were optimized accordingly. Hypocrellin B (HB), a novel photosensitizer was then encapsulated in biotinylated polymeric micelles and the anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated systemically in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that micelles with 5 mol % Biotin-PEG-DSPE demonstrated the best targeting capability than those with 20 mol % or 0.5 mol % of corresponding materials. This formulation has a small particle size [mean diameter of (36.74 ± 2.16) nm] with a homogeneous distribution and high encapsulation efficiency (80.06 ± 0.19) %. The following pharmacodynamics assays showed that the biotinylated micelles significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of HB against tumor cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo, suggesting a promising potential of this formulation for treatment of pancreatic cancer, especially those poorly permeable, or insensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum gastrin level in patients with colon cancer and the relationship between serum gastrin level and colon cancer occurrence and development.Methods Data of 35 patients underwent colon cancer surgery from January 2010 to January 2012 in our hospital were collected,at the same time data of 28 patients with colonic polyps and 30 cases of normal were collected as normal control.Serum gastrin levels were tested by radioimmunoassay in patients with colon cancer before surgery,1,3,7 d after surgery and they were analyzed.Results The serum gastrin level of patients with colon cancer was significantly increased compared with colon polyps and healthy controls((92.45 ± 12.98) ng/L vs (49.66 ±10.34) ng/L vs (30.12 ±6.39) ng/L;F =9.455,P ＜0.001)).Serum gastrin level in patients with obstructive colon cancer was significantly higher than that in non-obstructive cancer((129.84 ± 15.32) ng/L vs (75.34 ±11.45) ng/L,t =12.181,P ＜0.001) ;Serum gastrin levels in patients who cut off colon tumor was signifcanfly lower than before surgery((43.02 ±8.34) ng/L,(40.74 ±6.78) rig/L,(38.12 ±7.09) ng/L vs (89.45 ±12.98) ng/L;P ＜0.05).But no significant change of serum gastrin levels in patients with the colon tumor compared with the preoperative((97.34 +8.30) ng/L vs (95.82 ±7.20) ng/L vs (94.44 ±7.74) ng/L vs (100.23 ± 10.82) ng/L; P ＞ 0.05).But there was significant difference on serum gastrin levels between patients who cut off colon tumor and patients with the colon tumor(within groups:F =8.341,P =0.012 ;between groups:F =7.871,P =0.024).Conchusion Serum gastrin levels in patients with colon cancer were significantly higher than that of patients with colon polyps and normal controls.There was also a significant reduction of serum gastrin in tumor resection,and therefore gastrin may be involved in the development of colon cancer.