A 3D rendering of a cancer cell surrounded by nanoparticles killing the tumor. Credit: Iliescu Catalin / Alamy Stock Photo
Laboratory experiments show that an instant nanoformulation can deliver doxorubicin, a common anti-cancer drug, into multidrug-resistant cancer cells1. The drug-loaded nanoformulation has been found to kill cancer cells more efficiently than the free drug.
This technique will provide a platform for next-generation nanomedicines, vaccines and chemotherapeutic drug formulation, says an international research team.
The scientists, led by Hirak K. Patra, developed the nanoformulation by adding two types of polymers plus doxorubicin to a phosphate buffer solution. Sophisticated imaging techniques showed the formulation contained droplet-like nanostructures.
The team, including researchers at University College London and Imperial College London in the United Kingdom and the National Institute of Technology Durgapur in West Bengal, observed that the nanosystem released doxorubicin at a higher rate under slightly acidic conditions than at neutral pH. The release rate was lowest below pH 4.5.
The nanoformulation was found to increase the toxic effects of doxorubicin on specific breast cancer cells. The researchers then selected drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant, three-dimensional tumour spheroids from head and neck cancer cells.
They found that the nanoformulation was as toxic as free doxorubicin to the cancer cells in drug-sensitive spheroids and exhibited higher cell-killing properties than the free drug in multidrug-resistant spheroids.
If necessary, the nanoformulation could be administered by someone with no training or knowledge of nanotechnology and drug formulation, says Patra.
