Estrone-targeted liposomes for mitoxantrone delivery via estrogen receptor: In vivo targeting efficacy, antitumor activity, acute toxicity and pharmacokinetics

•In vivo targeting efficacy experiments proved ES-SSL could not only deliver drugs to target tumor tissues, but also reduce side effects of drugs in the liver and spleen.•Antitumor activity in vivo experiments showed ES-SSL could deliver MTO into tumor tissues, and its long-circulating characteristics of SSL could reduce drug metabolism and maintain the treatment concentration for a longer period.•Acute toxicity experiments denoted SSL and ES-SSL could reduce the toxicity and enhance the safety of MTO.•In vivo pharmacokinetic studies indicated long-circulating targeting liposomes could significantly prolong the circulation time of MTO in blood, and MTO liposomes could reduce the toxic and side effects of MTO on some major organs (heart, lung and kidney), and improve the therapeutic effect of MTO.