Investigation of the spatiotemporal responses of nanoparticles in tumor tissues with a small-scale mathematical model

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e59135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059135. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

The transport and accumulation of anticancer nanodrugs in tumor tissues are affected by many factors including particle properties, vascular density and leakiness, and interstitial diffusivity. It is important to understand the effects of these factors on the detailed drug distribution in the entire tumor for an effective treatment. In this study, we developed a small-scale mathematical model to systematically study the spatiotemporal responses and accumulative exposures of macromolecular carriers in localized tumor tissues. We chose various dextrans as model carriers and studied the effects of vascular density, permeability, diffusivity, and half-life of dextrans on their spatiotemporal concentration responses and accumulative exposure distribution to tumor cells. The relevant biological parameters were obtained from experimental results previously reported by the Dreher group. The area under concentration-time response curve (AUC) quantified the extent of tissue exposure to a drug and therefore was considered more reliable in assessing the extent of the overall drug exposure than individual concentrations. The results showed that 1) a small macromolecule can penetrate deep into the tumor interstitium and produce a uniform but low spatial distribution of AUC; 2) large macromolecules produce high AUC in the perivascular region, but low AUC in the distal region away from vessels; 3) medium-sized macromolecules produce a relatively uniform and high AUC in the tumor interstitium between two vessels; 4) enhancement of permeability can elevate the level of AUC, but have little effect on its uniformity while enhancement of diffusivity is able to raise the level of AUC and improve its uniformity; 5) a longer half-life can produce a deeper penetration and a higher level of AUC distribution. The numerical results indicate that a long half-life carrier in plasma and a high interstitial diffusivity are the key factors to produce a high and relatively uniform spatial AUC distribution in the interstitium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biological Transport
  • Capillary Permeability
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dextrans / metabolism
  • Dextrans / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Dextrans
  • Macromolecular Substances

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by: National Science Council (http://web1.nsc.gov.tw/mp.aspx?mp=7) under grant Nos. NSC 99-2221-E-002- 043-MY3, NSC 98-2115-M-035-001-MY2, NSC 99-2120-M-002-003, NSC 100-2632-E-035 -001-MY3, and NSC 101-2115-M-035-001; and National Health Research Institutes (http://english.nhri.org.tw/NHRI_WEB/nhriw001Action.do) under grant No. NHRI-MP-100-PP-13. Author TLH also acknowledges the support from Taida Institute for Mathematical Science (TIMS) (http://www.tims.ntu.edu.tw/) and the National Center for Theoretical Sciences (NCTS) (http://www.cts.nthu.edu.tw/main.php). All the funders mentioned above had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.