Mixed polymeric micelles for combination cancer chemotherapy through the concurrent delivery of multiple chemotherapeutic agents

J Control Release. 2007 Oct 8;122(3):324-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2007.05.038. Epub 2007 Jun 13.

Abstract

As a novel drug nanocarrier for combination delivery of multiple anticancer agents, mixed polymeric micelles were developed and characterized in this study. A DNA-damaging anthracycline agent doxorubicin (DOX) and a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin (WOR) were conjugated alone or combination onto poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartate hydrazide) block copolymers through a hydrazone bond. Polymer-drug conjugates assembled into a unimodal micelle structure with a <100 nm particle size, in which the drug mixing ratios between DOX/WOR were precisely controlled. Cytotoxicity assay against a human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line showed that drug nanocarrier based on mixed polymeric micelles can reduce DOX required for cytotoxicity while maintaining the biological activity of the independent polymeric micelles. It is postulated that WOR enhances the efficacy of DOX through an efficient combination delivery accompanied by synergistic drug action. These findings, therefore, bring an effective drug delivery methodology that might reduce the effective dose as well as toxicity in vivo compared to the conventional drug formulations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Androstadienes / administration & dosage
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Androstadienes / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Micelles
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Proteins / chemical synthesis
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Drug Carriers
  • Micelles
  • Proteins
  • poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(aspartate hydrazide)
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin
  • Wortmannin