title: Further Evolution of Multifunctional Niosomes Based on Pluronic Surfactant: Dual Active Targeting and Drug Combination Properties.
abstract: The loading of chemotherapics into smart nanocarriers that simultaneously possess more than one useful property for specifically targeting a tumor site improves their therapeutic effectiveness, reducing their side effects. Hence, we proposed a combined approach for the treatment of human breast cancer (BC) consisting of the co-encapsulation of doxorubicin and curcumin or doxorubicin and quercetin into multifunctional niosomes, which results in prolonged blood circulation and an ability to spontaneously accumulate at the tumor site (passive target) and to recognize and bind the tumor cells through dual ligand-receptor interactions (active target). The drug-loaded vesicles showed high stability and good capability of loading doxorubicin and antioxidants alone or in combination. Their diameter was around 400 nm. The drugs released from the vesicles were found to be controlled and sustained for over 24 h, with a strong dependence on the co-presence of the loaded molecules. Transferrin and/or folic acid were conjugated on the external surface of the niosomes as ligands, considerably improving the cellular uptake into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 malignant cells when compared with the uptake of nonconjugated samples. In vitro evaluation of anticancer activity demonstrated the strong potential of niosomes loaded with a doxorubicin/curcumin combination as useful devices in breast tumor treatment. These features hold great promise for the development of multifunctional devices that combine several advantages such as biocompatibility, stealth properties, loading capability, and active targeting, moving toward the development of more specific and efficient carriers for personalized tumoral therapy.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Tavano
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Loredana
authors: L
authors: Mauro
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina Daniela
authors: GD
authors: Naimo
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Bruno
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Nevio
authors: N
authors: Picci
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Sebastiano
authors: S
authors: Andò
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences and ‡Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria , Via Pietro Bucci, Ed. Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Muzzalupo
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004705:Endocytosis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008081:Liposomes; D012235:Rhodamines; D014168:Transferrin; D020442:Poloxamer; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005492:Folic Acid; D000165:Acridine Orange; D003474:Curcumin