BackgroundThe present study was motivated by the need to design a safe nano-carrier for the delivery of doxorubicin which could be tolerant to normal cells. PCL63-b-PNVP90 was loaded with doxorubicin (6 mg/ml), and with 49.8% drug loading efficiency; it offers a unique platform providing selective immune responses against lymphoma.MethodsIn this study, we have used micelles of amphiphilic PCL63-b-PNVP90 block copolymer as nano-carrier for controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). DOX is physically entrapped and stabilized in the hydrophobic cores of the micelles and biological roles of these micelles were evaluated in lymphoma.ResultsDOX loaded PCL63-b-PNVP90 block copolymer micelles (DOX-PCL63-b-PNVP90) shows enhanced growth inhibition and cytotoxicity against human (K-562, JE6.1 and Raji) and mice lymphoma cells (Dalton's lymphoma, DL). DOX-PCL63-b-PNVP90 demonstrates higher levels of tumoricidal effect against DOX-resistant tumor cells compared to free DOX. DOX-PCL63-b-PNVP90 demonstrated effective drug loading and a pH-responsive drug release character besides exhibiting sustained drug release performance in in-vitro and intracellular drug release experiments.ConclusionUnlike free DOX, DOX-PCL63-b-PNVP90 does not show cytotoxicity against normal cells. DOX-PCL63-b-PNVP90 prolonged the survival of tumor (DL) bearing mice by enhancing the apoptosis of the tumor cells in targeted organs like liver and spleen.

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We have synthesized a well-defined four-arm star amphiphilic block copolymer [poly(DLLA)-b-poly(NVP)]4 [star-(PDLLA-b-PNVP)4] that consists of D,L-lactide (DLLA) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) via the combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and xanthate-mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Synthesis of the polymer was verified by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The amphiphilic four-arm star block copolymer forms spherical micelles in water as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Pyrene acts as a probe to ascertain the critical micellar concentration (cmc) by using fluorescence spectroscopy. Methotrexate (MTX)-loaded polymeric micelles of star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 amphiphilic block copolymer were prepared and characterized by fluorescence and TEM studies. Star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 copolymer was found to be significantly effective with respect to inhibition of proliferation and lysis of human and murine lymphoma cells. The amphiphilic block copolymer causes cell death in parental and MTX-resistant Dalton lymphoma (DL) and Raji cells. The formulation does not cause hemolysis in red blood cells and is tolerant to lymphocytes compared to free MTX. Therapy with MTX-loaded star-(PDLLA15-b-PNVP10)4 amphiphilic block copolymer micelles prolongs the life span of animals with neoplasia by reducing the tumor load, preventing metastasis and augmenting CD8+ T cell-mediated adaptive immune responses.

Bilirubin is regarded as a toxic waste, produced from heme degradation and also acts as a potentially important antioxidant. Bilirubin causes arrest in cell cycle and lead to lesser occurrence of malignancies in individuals, having normal or slender increase in levels of serum bilirubin. Prompted by the dynamic interaction between bilirubin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), bilirubin-BSA complex was explored as a biocompatible cap system for protease responsive delivery device of anticancer drug against colon cancer. Bilirubin, conjugated to the amine terminated and doxorubicin loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles were employed as a novel formulation against colon carcinoma cells. Compared to doxorubicin only, bilirubin in combination with doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticle significantly inhibits tumor cell growth as assessed in MC-38 (murine) and HCT-116 (human) colon cancer cells. Bilirubin-doxorubicin combination potently inhibits proliferation of tumor cells and acted as cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic agent in vitro. Our result demonstrates that this novel cap system could play a precise role in defense against colon cancer by interrupting the pro-cancerogenic survival pathways during carcinogenesis.