title: Anti-tumor effects of brucine immuno-nanoparticles on hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma is difficult to diagnose early, and most patients are already in the late stages of the disease when they are admitted to hospital. The total 5-year survival rate is less than 5%. Recent studies have showed that brucine has a good anti-tumor effect, but high toxicity, poor water solubility, short half-life, narrow therapeutic window, and a toxic dose that is close to the therapeutic dose, which all limit its clinical application. This study evaluated the effects of brucine immuno-nanoparticles (BIN) on hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anionic polymerization, chemical modification technology, and phacoemulsification technology were used to prepare a carboxylated polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid copolymer carrier material. Chemical coupling technology was utilized to develop antihuman AFP McAb-polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid copolymer BIN. The size, shape, zeta potential, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and release of these immune-nanoparticles were studied in vitro. The targeting, and growth, invasion, and metastasis inhibitory effects of this treatment on liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BIN were of uniform size with an average particle size of 249 ± 77 nm and zeta potential of -18.7 ± 4.19 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was 76.0% ± 2.3% and the drug load was 5.6% ± 0.2%. Complete uptake and even distribution around the liver cancer cell membrane were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BIN had even size distribution, was stable, and had a slow-releasing effect. BIN targeted the cell membrane of the liver cancer cell SMMC-7721 and significantly inhibited the growth, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis of SMMC-7721 cells. As a novel drug carrier system, BIN are a potentially promising targeting treatment for liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. jianminqin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Pei-Hao
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhong-Qiu
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Sa
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke-Pan
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qing-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: He-Bai
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013331:Strychnine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000922:Immunotoxins; C083806:brucine; D013331:Strychnine