title: Albumin nanocapsules containing fenretinide: pre-clinical evaluation of cytotoxic activity in experimental models of human non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The present study deals with the preparation of albumin nanocapsules containing fenretinide and their evaluation in experimental models of human non-small cell lung cancer. These nanocapsules showed enhanced antitumor activity with respect to free fenretinide due to the solubilization effect of albumin on the hydrophobic drug, known to improve bioavailability. The high expression of caveolin-1 on the A549 cell surface further enhanced the antitumor activity of the nanoencapsulated fenretinide. Caveolin-1 favored albumin uptake and improved the efficacy of the fenretinide-loaded albumin nanocapsules, especially in 3-D cultures where the densely packed 3-D structures impaired drug diffusibility and severely reduced the activity of the free drug. The efficacy of the fenretinide albumin nanocapsules was further confirmed in tumor xenograft models of A549 by the significant delay in tumor progression observed with respect to control after intravenous administration of the novel formulation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study describes the preparation of fenretinide containing albumin nanocapsules and their evaluation in experimental models of non-small cell lung cancer, showing enhanced antitumor activity compared to free fenretinide.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pignatta
authors.affiliation: FaBiT-Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, BO, Italy. Electronic address: isabella.orienti@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orienti
authors.affiliation: DIBINEM-Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, BO, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.affiliation: DIBINEM-Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, BO, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teti
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arienti
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Medri
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carloni
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Wainer
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zoli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tesei
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053769:Nanocapsules; D017313:Fenretinide
keywords: 3-D cell cultures; Albumin; Fenretinide; In vivo experiments; Nanocapsules