title: Preparation of albumin nanospheres loaded with gemcitabine and their cytotoxicity against BXPC-3 cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To optimize formulation methods for loading gemcitabine (GEM), the main drug against pancreatic cancer, into albumin nanoparticles for extended blood circulation and improved efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  GEM was loaded into two sizes of disolvation-crosslinked bovine serum albumin nanoparticles, with a mean diameter of 109.7 nm and 405.6 nm, respectively, by co-precipitation (the direct method) and follow-up adsorption (the indirect method). The antitumor activities of the two nanoparticulate formulations, were evaluated according to their anti-proliferative effects on the human pancreatic cell line BXPC-3, which were assessed using the MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two nanoparticulate formulations, created by direct co-precipitation and indirect adsorption, possessed smooth surfaces and high drug loading efficiencies, 83% and 93% at 11% and 13% drug loading, respectively. The two formulations released GEM for 8 and 12 h, respectively, and significantly improved anti-BXPC-3 proliferation effects, as compared with the GEM solution and the drug-free albumin particles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-precipitating and adsorbing GEM into albumin particles resulted in sustained-release nanoparticulate formulations with improved antitumor cytotoxicity. The result suggests that this is a useful formulation strategy for improving the antitumor efficacy of GEM.
authors.affiliation: Pancreatic Disease Institute, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Jin-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xian-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei-yue
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: De-liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Quan-xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Hui-min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D000093542:Gemcitabine