Anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres based on biodegradable amphiphilic ε-caprolactone and carbonate copolymers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate anticancer drug-loaded poly(carbonate-ester) nanospheres as potential drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.


METHODS
Functional poly(carbonate-ester) copolymers (HPCP-SD) were synthesized by the incorporation of sulfadiazine as the tumor-targeting groups to hydroxyl groups of poly(carbonate-ester) copolymers. Two types of anticancer drug-loaded poly(carbonate-ester) nanospheres I and II were further prepared by dialysis method and high-voltage electrostatic field-assisted atomization, respectively, using HPCP-SD as polymeric carriers. These carriers and anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres were characterized, and their properties in vitro and in vivo were evaluated.


RESULTS
These anticancer drug-loaded poly(carbonate-ester) nanospheres had steady drug release rates and good controlled release properties. Moreover, anticancer drug-loaded poly(carbonate-ester) nanospheres II had faster drug release rates than those of anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres I. These anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres possessed lower cytotoxicity to HEK 293 cells and exhibited obviously higher anticancer efficiencies to the HeLa tumor cells than that of 5-fluorouracil. Anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres I possessed lower cytotoxicity to HEK 293 cells and higher anticancer activity to HeLa cells than those of anticancer drug-loaded nanospheres II.


CONCLUSIONS
These anticancer drug-loaded poly(carbonate-ester) nanospheres showed the potential as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.
Yan
Guo-Ping
GP
School of Material Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China. guopyan2006@163.com
Zong
Rong-Feng
RF
Li
Liang
L
Fu
Ting
T
Liu
Fan
F
Yu
Xiang-Hua
XH
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002208:Caproates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002254:Carbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002208:Caproates; D002254:Carbonates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007783:Lactones; D011108:Polymers; C121056:caprolactone