Characterization and Evaluation of Nano-niosomes Encapsulating Docetaxel against Human Breast, Pancreatic, and Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: Docetaxel (DXL) is an antineoplastic agent for cancer treatment, the therapeutic efficiency of which is limited due to low solubility, hydrophobicity, and tissue specificity. Objective: In this study, nano-niosomes were introduced for improving therapeutic index of DXL. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, two nano-niosomes were synthesized using Span 20® and Span 80® and a thin film hydration method with DXL loading (DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80). Characterization, in-vitro cytotoxicity and bioavailability of the nano-niosomes was also evaluated via in-vivo experiments. Results: DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80 have vesicles size in a range of 84-90 nm and negative zeta potentials. DXL entrapment efficiencies were obtained as 69.6 and 74.0% for DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80, respectively; with an in-vitro sustained release patterns. Cytotoxicity assays were performed against MDA-MB-231, Calu-6, and AsPC-1 cell lines, and the results indicated that DXL loading into nano-niosomes led to decrement in values of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at least 2.5 times and at most 6.5 times, compared to free DXL. Moreover, the rat blood bioavailability of DXL after intraperitoneal administration and the pharmacokinetic parameters indicated higher DXL plasma level and the higher effectiveness of DXL-Span80 compared to DXL-Span20. Conclusion: Carrying DXL by the nano-niosomes led to enhanced cytotoxicity (and lower IC50 values) and higher efficacy with enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters.

Synchronized Chemotherapy/Photothermal Therapy/Sonodynamic Therapy of Human Triple-Negative and Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cells Using a Doxorubicin-Gold Nanoclusters-Albumin Nanobioconjugate.

OBJECTIVE: Novel strategies for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are ongoing because of the lack of standard-of-care treatment. Nanoframed materials with a protein pillar are considered a valuable tool for designing multigoals of energy-absorbing/medication cargo and are a bridge to cross-conventional treatment strategies. METHODS: Nanobioconjugates of gold nanoclusters-bovine serum albumin (AuNCs-BSA) and doxorubicin-AuNCs-BSA (Dox-AuNCs-BSA) were prepared and employed as a simultaneous double photosensitizer/sonosensitizer and triple chemotherapeutic/photosensitizer/sonosensitizer, respectively. RESULTS: The highly stable AuNCs-BSA and Dox-AuNCs-BSA have ζ potentials of -29 and -18 mV, respectively, and represent valuable photothermal and sonodynamic activities for the combination of photothermal therapy and sonodynamic therapy (PTT/SDT) and synchronized chemotherapy/photothermal therapy/sonodynamic therapy (CTX/PTT/SDT) of human TNBC cells, respectively. The efficiency of photothermal conversion of AuNCs-BSA was calculated to be a promising value of 32.9%. AuNCs-BSA and Dox-AuNCs-BSA were activated on either laser light irradiation or ultrasound exposure with the highest efficiency on the combination of both types of radiation. CTX/PTT/SDT of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by Dox-AuNCs-BSA were evaluated with the MTT cell proliferation assay and found to progress synergistically. CONCLUSION: Results of the MTT assay, detection of the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and occurrence of apoptosis in the cells confirmed that CTX/PTT/SDT by Dox-AuNCs-BSA was attained with lower needed doses of the drug and improved tumor cell ablation, which would result in the enhancement of therapeutic efficacy and overcoming of therapeutic resistance.