title: Discovery of new hexagonal supramolecular nanostructures formed by squalenoylation of an anticancer nucleoside analogue.
abstract: In this study, the dynamically folded conformation of squalene (SQ) is taken advantage of to link this natural compound to the anticancer nucleoside analogue gemcitabine (gem) in order to achieve the spontaneous formation of nanoassemblies (SQgem) in water. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy examination reveals particles (104 nm) with a hexagonal or multifaceted shape that display an internal structure made of reticular planes, each particle being surrounded by an external shell. X-ray diffraction evidences the hexagonal molecular packing of SQgem, resulting from the stacking of direct or inverse cylinders. The respective volumes of the gem and SQ molecules as well as molecular modeling of SQgem suggest the stacking of inverse hexagonal phases, in which the central aqueous core, consisting of water and gem molecules, is surrounded by SQ moieties. These SQgem nanoassemblies also exhibit impressively greater anticancer activity than gem against a solid subcutaneously grafted tumor, following intravenous administration. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of hexagonal phase organization with a SQ derivative.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Sud XI, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR CNRS 8612, IFR 141, 92296 Châtenay-Malabry Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couvreur
authors.forename: L Harivardhan
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangenot
authors.forename: Jacques H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Poupaert
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desmaële
authors.forename: Sinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepêtre-Mouelhi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pili
authors.forename: Claudie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourgaux
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amenitsch
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ollivon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D007941:Leukemia P388 / Q000188:drug therapy; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D013185:Squalene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D013185:Squalene; D000093542:Gemcitabine