Nanoparticles For Breast Cancer Treatment Research Articles

Co-delivery of rapamycin- and piperine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux is the major cause of multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors when using anticancer drugs, moreover, poor bioavailability of few drugs is also due to P-gp efflux in the gut. Rapamycin (RPM) is in the clinical trials for breast cancer treatment, but its P-gp substrate property leads to poor oral bioavailability and efficacy. The objective of this study is to formulate and evaluate nanoparticles of RPM, along with a chemosensitizer (piperine, PIP) for improved oral bioavailability and efficacy. Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) was selected as polymer as it has moderate MDR reversal activity, which may provide additional benefits. The nanoprecipitation method was used to prepare PLGA nanoparticles with particle size below 150 nm, loaded with both drugs (RPM and PIP). Prepared nanoparticles showed sustained in vitro drug release for weeks, with initial release kinetics of zero order with non-Fickian transport, subsequently followed by Higuchi kinetics with Fickian diffusion. An everted gut sac method was used to study the effect of P-gp efflux on drug transport. This reveals that the uptake of the RPM (P-gp substrate) has been increased in the presence of chemosensitizer. Pharmacokinetic studies showed better absorption profile of RPM from polymeric nanoparticles compared to its suspension counterpart and improved bioavailability of 4.8-folds in combination with a chemosensitizer. An in vitro cell line study indicates higher efficacy of nanoparticles compared to free drug solution. Results suggest that the use of a combination of PIP with RPM nanoparticles would be a promising approach in the treatment of breast cancer.

Co-delivery of docetaxel and Poloxamer 235 by PLGA-TPGS nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle to the success of cancer chemotherapy. Poloxamers have been shown to reverse MDR by inhibiting the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pump. The objective of this research is to test the feasibility of docetaxel-loaded PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 nanoparticles to overcome MDR in docetaxel-resistant human breast cancer cell line. Docetaxel-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by a modified nanoprecipitation method using PLGA-TPGS and PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 mixture, respectively. The PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 nanoparticles were of spherical shape and have a rough and porous surface. The docetaxel-loaded PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 porous nanoparticles which had an average size of around 180nm with a narrow size distribution were stable, showing almost no change in particle size and surface charge during the 3-month storage period. The in vitro drug release profile of both nanoparticle formulations showed a biphasic release pattern. There was an increased level of uptake of PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 porous nanoparticles (PPNPs) in docetaxel-resistant human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7/TXT, in comparison with PLGA-TPGS nanoparticles (PTNPs). The PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 porous nanoparticles produced significantly higher level of toxicity than both of PLGA-TPGS nanoparticle formulation and Taxotere® both in vitro and in vivo, indicating docetaxel-loaded PLGA-TPGS/Poloxamer 235 porous nanoparticles have significant potential for the treatment of breast cancer.

Multistage delivery of chemotherapeutic nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment

Adequate drug delivery to tumors is hindered by barriers such as degradation and non-specific distribution. Nested incorporation of drug-containing nanoparticles within mesoporous silicon particles (MSVs), carriers rationally designed to enhance tumor transport, was hypothesized to result in pronounced and sustained antitumor efficacy. Paclitaxel (PTX)-containing poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) polymer micelles were favorably loaded within MSVs, after which drug release was significantly delayed. Antitumor efficacy analyses in mice bearing MDA-MB-468 breast tumors demonstrated significant tumor growth suppression following a single administration. Results highlight effective chemotherapeutic shuttling and site-specific controlled release afforded by MSVs, potentially translating towards improvements in patient outcomes and morbidity.