title: Lactoferrin-conjugated dendritic nanoconstructs for lung targeting of methotrexate.
abstract: The present investigation was aimed at developing and exploring the potential of lactoferrin (Lf)-conjugated dendritic nanocomposite for lung targeting of methotrexate (MTX). The 5.0 G poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimer and Lf-conjugated 5.0 G PPI dendrimer were synthesized and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission electron microscopy. The entrapment efficiency, in vitro release, and hemolytic toxicity were assessed. Pharmacokinetic and organ distribution studies were carried out to evaluate in vivo targeting potential of developed system. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that elimination half-life of MTX-loaded plain PPI dendrimer (10.41 ± 2.12 h, p < 0.05) and MTX-loaded Lf-conjugated PPI dendrimer (12.23 ± 1.53 h, p < 0.01) was significantly higher than the free drug (5.85 ± 1.19 h). Organ distribution assessment of different formulations displayed significant (p <0.05) higher accumulation of drug in lungs by MTX-Lf-PPI (1329 ± 26.7 ng/g of tissue) as compared with MTX-PPI (721 ± 23.4 ng/g of tissue) and free MTX (575 ± 19.7 ng/g of tissue) after 6 h of administration. The result suggested that Lf-conjugated 5.0 G PPI dendrimer-based formulations to be approximately 1.5 times and 2.5 times superior to plain 5.0 G PPI dendrimer as well as pure MTX, respectively, for lung targeting of anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India.
authors.forename: Balak D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kurmi
authors.forename: Virendra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gajbhiye
authors.forename: Jitendra
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kayat
authors.forename: Narendra K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012995:Solubility; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011126:Polypropylenes; C443641:poly(propyleneimine); D007781:Lactoferrin; D008727:Methotrexate