Potentiating bisphosphonate-based coordination complexes to treat osteolytic metastases

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Mar 11;8(10):2155-2168. doi: 10.1039/c9tb01857c.

Abstract

The hydrothermal reaction between bioactive metal (Ca2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+) salts and a clinically utilized bisphosphonate, alendronate (ALEN), promotes the formation of several materials denominated as bisphosphonate-based coordination complexes (BPCCs). The systematic exploration of the effect of three variables, M2+/ALEN molar ratio, temperature, and pH, on the reaction yielded an unprecedented number of materials of enough crystal quality for structural elucidation. Five crystal structures were unveiled by single crystal X-ray diffraction (ALEN-Ca forms I and II, ALEN-Zn forms I and II, and ALEN-Mg) and their solid-state properties revealed in tandem with other techniques. The dissolution of these BPCCs was tested and contrasted to that of the commercially employed generic form of Fosamax® Alendronate Sodium, using fasted-state simulated gastric fluid and phosphate-buffered saline solution. Quantification of ALEN content was performed by derivatization with Cu2+, which produced a soluble complex suitable for quantification. The results show that these materials present a pH-dependent degradation. Moreover, a phase inversion temperature (PIT) nano-emulsion method was applied to the synthesis of ALEN-Ca form II. Size distribution analysis demonstrated the efficiency of the PIT-nano-emulsion method to decrease the particle size of this BPCC from ∼60 μm to ∼438 d nm. The cytotoxicity of ALEN, ALEN-Ca form II (bulk crystals), and nano-Ca@ALEN (nanocrystals) against the MDA-MB-231 cell line was investigated. Nano-Ca@ALEN form II presents higher cytotoxicity effects than ALEN and ALEN-Ca form II (bulk crystals), showing inhibition of cell proliferation at 7.5 μM. These results provide evidence of the structure, stability, dissolution and cytotoxicity properties of ALEN-based BPCCs and pave the way for better formulation strategies for this drug through the design of nano-sized BPCCs for the treatment of bone-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alendronate / chemistry
  • Alendronate / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Diphosphonates / chemistry
  • Diphosphonates / pharmacology*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Osteoclasts
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Diphosphonates
  • Alendronate