Cholangiocarcinoma is an epithelial cancer of the bile ducts with poor prognosis and, in recent years, a rapidly increasing incidence. In this study, nano-sized thermo-sensitive micelles were investigated as drug carriers to improve chemotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma. Thermo-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymer, P-(N,N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-hydroxymethylacrylamide)-b-caprolactone [P-(NIPAAm-co-NHMAAm)-b-PCL] with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at about 38°C was synthesized. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded micelles were prepared by dialysis method. The micelles exhibited a sustained and temperature-dependent DOX release. Toxicity of the blank micelles for human cholangiocarcinoma (QBC939) cells was minimal both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the DOX-loaded micelles effectively inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of QBC939 cells in vitro (p<0.05) and inhibited tumor growth in nude mice by 21.49%. These results indicated that thermo-sensitive amphiphilic micelles are a promising and effective drug carrier, and show potential for improving chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma.
Keywords: Amphiphilic block copolymer; Cholangiocarcinoma; Drug carriers; Micelle; Thermo-sensitive.
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