Star polyester-based folate acid-targeting nanoparticles for doxorubicin and curcumin co-delivery to combat multidrug-resistant breast cancer. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Fangyuan; Yu, Nan; Jiao, Yunlong; Hong, Weiyong; Zhou, Kang; Ji, Xugang; Yuan, Huixing; Wang, Haiying; Li, Aiqin; Wang, Guoping; Yang, Gensheng
• Is Part Of: Drug delivery. Volume 28:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 1709
• Page End: 1721
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Folate acid-targeting nanoparticles -- combination therapy -- multidrug-resistance -- breast cancer; Drug delivery systems -- Periodicals; Drug targeting -- Periodicals; 615.05
• DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2021.1960926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1071-7544

Abstract

Abstract: Chemotherapeutic treatments are indispensable in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistance, strong cell toxicity, and poor targeting selection has inhibited their clinical application. In this study, two synergistic drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR), were co-administered to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). Based on the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, we developed folic acid-modified nanoparticles ((DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs) based on a star-shaped polyester (FA-TRI-CL) to enhance the tumor targeting selectivity and drug loading (DL) capacity. The (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs displayed a characteristic spheroid morphology with an ideal diameter (186.52 nm), polydispersity index (0.024), zeta potential (–18.87 mV), and good entrapment efficiency (97.64%/78.13%, DOX/CUR) and DL (20.27%/11.29%, DOX/CUR) values. In vitro pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments demonstrated that the (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs were gradually released, and they displayed the highest cell apoptosis and cellular uptake in MCF-7/ADR cells. Additionally, in vivo results illustrated that (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs not only displayed significant tumor targeting and anticancer efficacy, but also induced less pathological damage to the normal tissue. In summary, co-administered DOX and CUR appeared to reverse MDR, and this targeted combinational nanoscale delivery system could thus be a promising carrier for tumor therapies in the future.