Passively Targeted Curcumin-Loaded PEGylated PLGA Nanocapsules for Colon Cancer Therapy In Vivo

Abstract

Clinical applications of curcumin for the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases have been mainly hindered by its short biological half-life and poor water solubility. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have the potential to enhance the efficacy of poorly soluble drugs for systemic delivery. This study proposes the use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based polymeric oil-cored nanocapsules (NCs) for curcumin loading and delivery to colon cancer in mice after systemic injection. Formulations of different oil compositions are prepared and characterized for their curcumin loading, physico-chemical properties, and shelf-life stability. The results indicate that castor oil-cored PLGA-based NC achieves high drug loading efficiency (≈18% w(drug)/w(polymer)%) compared to previously reported NCs. Curcumin-loaded NCs internalize more efficiently in CT26 cells than the free drug, and exert therapeutic activity in vitro, leading to apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle. In addition, the formulated NC exhibits an extended blood circulation profile compared to the non-PEGylated NC, and accumulates in the subcutaneous CT26-tumors in mice, after systemic administration. The results are confirmed by optical and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging. In vivo growth delay studies are performed, and significantly smaller tumor volumes are achieved compared to empty NC injected animals. This study shows the great potential of the formulated NC for treating colon cancer.

Exceedingly Higher co-loading of Curcumin and Paclitaxel onto Polymer-functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide for Highly Potent Synergistic Anticancer Treatment

“…Higher loading of Cur on GP was achieved as compared to other recently reported delivery cargos2425262728293031 (Supplementary Table S3). Even by utilizing GO, only 208 wt.% was obtained24 achieving only half of the loading capacity as compared to our current approach.…”

Polymeric nanoparticles for colon cancer therapy: overview and perspectives

“…70 Another study revealed that PLGA-based polymeric oil-core nanocapsules (NCs) for curcumin loading in colon cancer therapy achieved a high drug loading efficiency and markedly smaller tumor volumes. 71 Moreover, a biodegradable MPEG-PLA micelle was employed to deliver curcumin by Xiang Gao and coworkers. This drug delivery system showed a significant cell growth inhibition in colon tumor compared to free curcumin at the same dose, which indicates an improvement of anticancer efficacy for curcumin in colon cancer therapy.…”

Graphene Oxide Wrapped SiO2/TiO2 Hollow Nanoparticles Loaded with Photosensitizer for Photothermal and Photodynamic Combination Therapy

“…The cells were incubated with different concentrations of GO‐HNP‐PpIX and irradiated for different times. After GO‐HNP‐PpIX treatment and photoirradiation, the dead cells were stained with the DeadEnd TM TUNEL system, which exhibited green fluorescence . Figure and Figure S6 in the Supporting Information illustrate that green fluorescence increased with increasing concentration and irradiation time.…”