Dose effect activity of ferrocifen-loaded lipid nanocapsules on a 9L-glioma model

Int J Pharm. 2009 Sep 11;379(2):317-23. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2009.05.031. Epub 2009 May 23.

Abstract

Ferrociphenol (Fc-diOH) is a new molecule belonging to the fast-growing family of organometallic anti-cancer drugs. In a previous study, we showed promising in vivo results obtained after the intratumoural subcutaneous administration of the new drug-carrier system Fc-diOH-LNCs on a 9L-glioma model. To further increase the dose of this lipophilic entity, we have created a series of prodrugs of Fc-diOH. The phenol groups were protected by either an acetyl (Fc-diAc) or by the long fatty-acid chain of a palmitate (Fc-diPal). LNCs loaded with Fc-diOH prodrugs have to be activated in situ by enzymatic hydrolysis. We show here that the protection of diphenol groups with palmitoyl results in the loss of Fc-diOH in vitro activity, probably due to a lack of in situ hydrolysis. On the contrary, protection with an acetate group does not affect the strong, in vitro, antiproliferative effect of ferrocifen-loaded-LNCs neither the reduction of tumour volume observed on an ectopic model, confirming that acetate is easily cleaved by cell hydrolases. Moreover, the cytostatic activity of Fc-diOH-LNCs is confirmed on an orthotopic glioma model since the difference in survival time between the infusion of 0.36 mg/rat Fc-diOH-LNCs and blank LNCs is statistically significant. By using LNCs or Labrafac to carry the drug, a dose-effect ranging from 0.005 to 2.5mg of Fc-diOH per animal can be evidenced.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Carriers / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Ferrous Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Lipids / administration & dosage*
  • Nanocapsules / administration & dosage*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / methods

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Lipids
  • Nanocapsules
  • ferrocifen
  • ferrociphenol