Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Feb 2020)
Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Co-Delivery of Sorafenib and Curcumin Using Lactosylated pH-Responsive Nanoparticles
Abstract
Yun Bian,1 Dong Guo2 1Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, WuXi 214000, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Dong GuoAffiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, No. 200 Hui He Road, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cancer worldwide. In the present investigation, sorafenib (SFN) and curcumin (CCM) were co-delivered using pH-sensitive lactosylated nanoparticles (LAC-NPs) for targeted HCC treatment.Methods: pH-responsive lactosylated materials were synthesized. SFN and CCM co-delivered, pH-responsive lactosylated nanoparticles (LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs) were self-assembled by using the nanoprecipitation technique. The nanoparticles were characterized in terms of particle size, charge and drug release profile. The anti-cancer effects of the nanoparticles were evaluated in human hepatic carcinoma cells (HepG2) cells and HCC tumor xenograft models.Results: LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs are spherical particles with light coats on the surface. The size and zeta potential of LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs were 115.5 ± 3.6 nm and − 34.6 ± 2.4, respectively. The drug release of LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs in pH 5.5 was more efficient than in pH 7.4. LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs group exhibited the smallest tumor volume (239 ± 14 mm3), and the inhibition rate of LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs was 77.4%.Conclusion: In summary, LAC-SFN/CCM-NPs was proved to be a promising system for targeted HCC therapy.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, nanoparticles, pH-responsive, sorafenib, curcumin
