The goal of this research is to structure a hyaluronic acid modified nanostructured lipid carrier (HA-NLCs) for vincristine sulfate (VCR) delivery, and detect its efficiency to improve the oral bioavailability. Emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to prepare the HA-NLCs nanoparticles. The particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency of VCR-NLCs and HA-NLCs were 187 ± 3.52 nm, -8.61 ± 1.29 mV, 33.12 ± 1.16% and 192 ± 4.41 nm, -32.82 ± 2.64 mV, 34.41 ± 2.21%, respectively. HA-NLCs could significantly improve the cellular uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells than other VCR formulations. The expressions of apoptosis related protein Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 were estimated by western blot assay in MCF-7 cells, and HA-NLCs exhibited the strongest effect in promoting cell apoptosis. The pharmacokinetics of HA-NLCs was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley male rats and the relative oral bioavailability of HA-NLCs and VCR-NLCs was improved about 1.8-fold and two-fold compared with VCR solution, respectively. Therefore, these results indicated that HA-NLCs could significantly improve the oral bioavailability and was a promising vehicle for the oral delivery of VCR.
Keywords: Hyaluronic acid; cationic; nanostructured lipid carrier; oral bioavailability; vincristine sulfate.