Folate-coated, long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes enhance doxorubicin antitumor effect in a breast cancer animal model.

Abstract

Long circulating pH-sensitive liposomes have been shown to effectively deliver doxorubicin (DOX) to tumors and reduce its toxic effects. Folic acid receptors are upregulated in a wide variety of solid, epithelial tumors, including breast cancer. In order to improve liposomal endocytosis and antitumor activity, folic acid has been added to nanoparticles surfaces to exploit overexpression of folate receptors in tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo of long circulating pH-sensitive folate-coated DOX-loaded liposomes (SpHL-DOX-Fol) in a 4T1 breast cancer model system in vitro and in vivo. Biodistribution studies were performed and in vivo electrocardiographic parameters were evaluated. A higher tumor uptake for radiolabeled SpHL-Fol (99mTc-SpHL-Fol) 4 h after intravenous administration was observed in comparision with non-folate-coated liposomes (99mTc-SpHL). Antitumor activity showed that SpHL-DOX-Fol treatment led to a 68% growth arrest and drastically reduce pulmonary metastasis foci. Additionally, eletrocardiographic parameters analysis revealed no dispersion in the QT and QTc interval was observed in liposomal treated mice. In summary, this novel multifunctional nanoplatform deomonstrated higher tumor uptake and antitumor activity. SpHL-DOX-Fol represents a drug delivery platform to improve DOX tumor delivery and reduce dose-limiting toxicity.

• Authors: Juliana de Oliveira Silva, Renata Salgado Fernandes, Caroline Mari Ramos Oda, Tiago Hilário Ferreira, Ana Flávia Machado Botelho, Marília Martins Melo, Marcelo Coutinho de Miranda, Dawidson Assis Gomes, Geovanni Dantas Cassali, Danyelle M Townsend, Domenico Rubello, Mônica Cristina Oliveira, André Luís Branco de Barros
• Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (Biomed Pharmacother) Vol. 118 Pg. 109323 (Oct 2019) ISSN: 1950-6007 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 31400669 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Liposomes
• Doxorubicin
• Folic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, ultrastructure)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Doxorubicin (blood, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Folic Acid (chemistry)
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Liposomes
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Tissue Distribution (drug effects)