Co-formulation of P-glycoprotein Substrate and Inhibitor in Nanocarriers: An Emerging Strategy for Cancer Chemotherapy

Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2014;14(5):419-33. doi: 10.2174/1568009614666140407112034.

Abstract

Scientific community is striving to understand the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in drug discovery programs due to its impact on pharmacokinetic and multi-drug resistance (MDR) of anticancer drugs. A number of efforts to resolve the crystal structure and understanding the mechanism of P-gp mediated efflux have been made. Several generations of Pgp inhibitors have been developed to tackle this multi-specific efflux protein. Unfortunately, these inhibitors lack selectivity, exhibit poor solubility and severe pharmacokinetic interactions restricting their clinical use. The nanocarrier drug delivery systems (NDDS) are receiving increasing attention for P-gp modulating activity of pharmaceutical excipients which are used in their fabrication. In addition, NDDS can enhance the solubility and exhibited ability to bypass P-gp mediated efflux. The co-formulation of P-gp inhibitors and substrate anticancer drugs in single drug delivery system offers the advantage of bypassing P-gp mediated drug efflux as well as inhibiting the P-gp. Moreover, severe pharmacokinetic interactions between P-gp inhibitor and substrate anticancer drugs could be avoided by using this strategy. In this article we describe the co-formulation strategies using nanocarriers for modulation of pharmacokinetics as well as multi-drug resistance of anticancer drugs along with the challenges in this area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical*
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Humans
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers