Abstract
One of the promising strategies for improvement of cancer treatment is application of a combination therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer activity of nanoformulations containing doxorubicin and iron oxide particles covered with polymeric shells bearing cholesterol moieties. It was postulated that due to high affinity to cell membranes, particles comprising poly(cholesteryl acrylate) can sensitize cancer cells to doxorubicin chemotherapy. The performed analyses revealed that the developed systems are effective against the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 even at low doses of the active compound applied (0.5 µM). Additionally, high compatibility and lack of toxicity of the tested materials against human red blood cells, immune (monocytic THP-1) cells, and cardiomyocyte H9C2(2-1) cells was demonstrated. Synergistic effects observed upon administration of doxorubicin with polymer–iron oxide hybrids comprising poly(cholesteryl acrylate) may provide an opportunity to limit toxicity of the drug and to improve its therapeutic efficiency at the same time.
Highlights
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]
In the step, we evaluated the potential of magnetic particles coated by polymeric shells containing poly(cholesteryl acrylate) to sensitize breast cancer cells to doxorubicin
The presented results indicate that doxorubicin-based chemotherapy may be improved by combination with polymer–iron oxide hybrids
Summary
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]. Currently, different ways of malignancy treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, might be employed. The application of a combination therapy might exert synergistic or additive effect and improve anticancer efficacy in comparison with a single chemical drug-based chemotherapy. In effect, searching for new strategies of combination therapy, such as sensitization of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by using small molecules, nanoparticles or physical techniques (radiation, phototherapy), is of great importance [4,5]. The concept of sensitization engages reversing the process of insensitivity or, if it is not effective, inhibiting an alternative pathway to facilitate the death of cancer cells using either the same drug or different drugs. It should be emphasized that application of combination treatment, especially the sensitization strategy, is strongly justified due to the fact that targets to develop new drugs are running out [7]
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