Doxorubicin-loaded nanocarriers: A comparative study of liposome and nanostructured lipid carrier as alternatives for cancer therapy.
Nowadays cancer is one of the most common causes of deaths worldwide. Conventional antitumor agents still present various problems related to specificity for tumor cells often leading to therapeutic failure. Nanoscale particles are considered potential alternative to direct access of drugs into tumor cells, therefore increasing the drug accumulation and performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) versus liposomes against a breast cancer animal experimental model. NLC-DOX and liposomes-DOX were successfully prepared and characterized. Tumor-bearing mice were divided into five groups (blank-NLC, blank-liposome, DOX, NLC-DOX, liposome-DOX). Each animal received by the tail vein four doses of antitumoral drugs (total dose, 16mg/kg), every 3 days. Antitumor efficacy was assessed by measuring 1) tumor volume, calculating the inhibitory ratio (TV-IR, see after) and 2) acquiring scintigraphic images of the tumor using doxorubicin radiolabeled with technetium-99m as an imaging tumor probe. Liposome-DOX and free DOX did not showed differences in the tumor mean volume, whereas NLC-DOX proved to be the best treatments in controlling the tumor growth. NLC-DOX showed an inhibition ration (TV-IR) of 73.5% while free DOX and liposome-DOX decreased TV-RI of 48.8% and 68.0%, respectively. Tumor was clearly visualized in controls, DOX, and liposome-DOX groups. Yet, regarding the NLC-DOX group, tumor was barely identified by the image, indicating antitumor efficacy. Moreover, both NLC and liposomes proved to be able to delay the occurrence of lung metastasis. In conclusion, results of this study indicated that NLC-DOX might be an alternative strategy to achieve an efficient antitumor activity.
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Renata S
RS
Fernandes
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Juliana O
JO
Silva
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Liziane O F
LOF
Monteiro
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Elaine A
EA
Leite
Biological Science Institute, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Geovanni D
GD
Cassali
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging, Radiology, NeuroRadiology, Interventional Radiology, Medical Physics, Clinical Laboratory, Microbiology & Pathology, Santa Maria dela Misericordia Hospital, Via Tre Martiri 140, Rovigo, 45100, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.rubello@libero.it.
Domenico
D
Rubello
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Valbert N
VN
Cardoso
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Lucas A M
LAM
Ferreira
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Mônica C
MC
Oliveira
Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: brancodebarros@yahoo.com.br.
André L B
ALB
de Barros
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005260:Female; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D047368:Tumor Burden
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin
Breast cancer; Doxorubicin; Drug delivery; Liposome; Nanostructured lipid carriers; Tumor