The use of cisplatin-loaded mucoadhesive nanofibers for local chemotherapy of cervical cancers in mice

Abstract

Polymer-based local drug delivery system may be suitable for the treatment of cervix cancer. A pilot study was carried out to examine the efficacy of cisplatin-loaded poly(ethylene oxide)/polylactide composite electrospun nanofibers as a local chemotherapy system against cervical cancer in mice via vaginal implantation. The nanofibers were proven to have good mucoadhesive property by in vitro mucoadhesion test and in vivo vaginal retention evaluation. An orthotopic cervical/vaginal cancer model was established by injecting murine cervical cancer U14 cells into the vaginal submucosa nearby the cervix. By inserting the nanofibers mat into the vagina of mice, the cisplatin released from the fiber-mat showed a much more accumulation in the vagina/cervix region than in the peripheral organs such as kidneys, liver, or blood, in contrary to the case of intravenous (i.v) injection. The in vivo trials showed that a better balance between anti-tumor efficacy and systemic safety was achieved in nanofibers group than that in i.v injection group at the equal drug dose. Therefore, electrospun nanofibers present a promising approach to the local drug delivery via vagina against cervical cancer.