Antitumoral activity of PEG-gemcitabine prodrugs targeted by folic acid

J Control Release. 2008 May 8;127(3):239-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.02.002. Epub 2008 Feb 15.

Abstract

Gemcitabine, 2',2'-difluoro-2'-deoxycytidine (dFdC), is an antitumor agent effective in the treatment of several solid tumors but its use is hampered by short plasma half-life, rapid metabolism and low selectivity towards tumor tissue. To overcome these limits, bioconjugates of gemcitabine were studied using poly(ethylene glycol) as polymeric carrier. Two types of conjugates were prepared, non-targeted and folic acid targeted conjugates. The formers were obtained starting from mPEG-OH of 5 and 20 kDa with linear or branched structure. The folic acid targeted conjugates, differing for the drug loading, were prepared exploiting a heterobifunctional PEG that allowed a consecutive coupling of the targeting agent and the drug. Folic acid was chosen as targeting agent because its receptor is often over-expressed in many tumors. To increase the polymer drug payload, the bicarboxylic amino acid, aminoadipic acid, was used. All conjugates were able to release the drug in a pH-dependent manner with no role of enzymes. The pharmacokinetic profiles are strictly related to the polymer molecular weight and the folic acid targeting increased 2-3 times the affinity towards the cells over-expressing folic acid receptors. These results are promising and encourage in vivo studies on these conjugates that act as polymeric prodrugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacokinetics
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / chemistry
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacokinetics
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology*
  • Drug Stability
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Folic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Gemcitabine
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacokinetics
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology*
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacokinetics
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Drug Carriers
  • Prodrugs
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Folic Acid
  • Cytidine Deaminase
  • Gemcitabine