title: Hyaluronan nanocapsules as a new vehicle for intracellular drug delivery.
abstract: Here we report the development of new drug nanocarriers - named hyaluronan nanocapsules - for the intracellular delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. These nanocapsules are composed of a lipid core and a shell of hyaluronic acid (HA). Nanocapsules were produced by a modified solvent displacement technique, which allows the formation of the polymer shell around the oily core using a cationic surfactant as an interphase bridge. The resulting nanocapsules have a size of ∼200 nm, a negative zeta potential and a spherical shape. The model drug docetaxel could be efficiently encapsulated within their core. The in vitro cell culture studies (NCI-H460 cancer cell line) showed that the cytotoxicity of docetaxel could be significantly enhanced due to its encapsulation within the nanocapsules. Interestingly, the nanocapsules were stable during storage and they could also be transformed into a powder by freeze-drying. These novel nanostructures hold promise as intracellular drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Felipe A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oyarzun-Ampuero
authors.forename: Gustavo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rivera-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Cancer; Hyaluronic acid; Hydrophobic drugs; Intracellular delivery; Nanocapsules; Nanocarriers