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In recent years, lipid-coated calcium-phosphate (LCP) nanoparticle has been developed as a versatile platform for delivery of various therapeutics including gene, protein/peptide, chemotherapeutics and theranostic agents. The high endosomal escape, coupled with the ability to efficiently encapsulate phosphorylated drugs or prodrugs, make LCP become attractive vehicle for drug delivery. Additionally, the principle behind LCP formulation has also allowed rational design of LCP-derived nanoparticles (NPs) with other solid core or lipid membrane to overcome the various drug delivery barriers. Here, we briefly review the history of the development of LCP NPs, highlight the optimisations and modulations in the development process, and summarise the major applications of LCP NPs and LCP-derived NPs in drug delivery.

Objective: To prepare follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) polypeptide modified nanoparticles (NP) in order to achieve specific ovarian tumor targeting., Methods: Expression of FSH receptor protein in human liver cancer and ovarian cancer cell lines BEL-7402, SKOV-3 and Caov-3 was detected by immunocytochemistry. The polypeptide fragment of FSH beta 81-95 amino acids (FSHL81-95) was synthesized and covalently coupled to NP. The specific binding of FSHL81-95 and FSHL81-95-NP was examined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry., Results: BEL-7402 and SKOV-3 cells were negative for FSH receptor staining, while Caov-3 cells were positive. The diameters of NP were about 100 nm, with a Zeta potential of -25 mV or so. Caov-3 cells showed a more specific interaction with FSHL81-95-NP than SKOV-3 cells (4.17 +/- 0.86 and 2.30 +/- 0.21; P < 0.05). The uptake of FSHL81-95-NP was more than NP in Caov-3 cells (4.17 +/- 0.86 and 0.41 +/- 0.32; P < 0.05). FSHL81-95-NP showed a selective targeting at Caov-3 cells compared with control NP., Conclusion: FSH polypeptide modified NP could selectively target ovarian cancer cells expressing FSH receptor, which might contribute to specific endocytosis mediated by FSH receptor.