Anticancer activity of all-trans retinoic acid-loaded liposomes on human thyroid carcinoma cells.
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an anti-tumor compound, exerting different anti-cancer effects on different types of cancer cells. Unfortunately, retinoids are also characterized by certain side effects following systemic administration, such as the burning of skin and general malaise. The highly variable degree of bioavailability of ATRA plus its tendency to induce its own destruction through metabolic degradation following oral treatment necessitate the development of alternative formulations. The aim of this work is to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of unilamellar, ATRA-containing liposomes and to investigate the cytotoxic activity of this potential nanomedicine on human thyroid carcinoma cells. Liposomes made up of DPPC/Chol/DSPE-mPEG2000 (6:3:1 molar ratio), characterized by a mean diameter of ∼200nm, a polydispersity index of 0.1 and a negative surface charge, were used as ATRA-carriers and their antiproliferative efficacy was investigated in comparison with the free drug on three different human thyroid carcinoma cell lines (PTC-1, B-CPAP, and FRO) through MTT-testing. The liposomes protected the ATRA against photodegradation and increased its antiproliferative properties due to the improvement of its cellular uptake. ATRA-loaded liposomes could be a novel formulation useful for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Maria Chiara
MC
Cristiano
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy; IRC-FSH-Interregional Research Center for Food Safety & Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Building of BioSciences, V.le Europa, I-88100 Germaneto Catanzaro (CZ), Italy.
Donato
D
Cosco
Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti 66013, Italy; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Christian
C
Celia
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Department of Applied Mathematics and Biostatistics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila" Bucharest, Faculty of Pharmacy, Traian Vuia, 020956, Bucharest, Romania.
Andra
A
Tudose
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Rosario
R
Mare
IRC-FSH-Interregional Research Center for Food Safety & Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Building of BioSciences, V.le Europa, I-88100 Germaneto Catanzaro (CZ), Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Donatella
D
Paolino
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Campus Universitario "S. Venuta", Viale S. Venuta, Germaneto, I-88100 Catanzaro, Italy; IRC-FSH-Interregional Research Center for Food Safety & Health, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Building of BioSciences, V.le Europa, I-88100 Germaneto Catanzaro (CZ), Italy. Electronic address: fresta@unicz.it.
Massimo
M
Fresta
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D065646:Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000737:chemistry*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D014212:Tretinoin
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA); Drug delivery systems; Human thyroid carcinoma; Liposomes