Search

We aimed to combine glycyrrhetinic acid with doxorubicin to prepare, characterize and evaluate a drug delivery nano-system with REDOX sensitivity for the treatment of breast cancer. M-DOX-GA NPs prepared by nano sedimentation were spherical, with a particle size of 181 nm. And the maximum encapsulation efficiency and drug loading in M-DOX-GA NPs were 89.28% and 18.22%, respectively. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake experiments of nanoparticles to KC cells, Cal-27 cells and 4T1 cells were studied by the CCK-8 method. The result indicated that M-DOX-GA NPs could accurately release the drug into the tumor cells, thus achieving the targeted release of the drug. Comparing the survival rate of the above three cells, it was found that M-DOX-GA NPs had a good tumor selectivity and had a more significant therapeutic effect on breast cancer. A 4T1-bearing mouse model was established, and the tumor inhibition rate was 77.37% after injection of nanoparticle solution for 14 d. Normal tissue H&E stained sections and TUNEL assay were verified M-DOX-GA NPs have excellent tumor suppressive effect, and can efficiently reduce the toxic side effects on normal organisms, and effectively avoided 4T1 cells metastasis. Immunofluorescence detection and Western-blot analysis figured a decline in both CUGBP1 and α-SMA, which verifying the TME remodeling induced by glycyrrhetinic acid. Collectively, the combination of doxorubicin and glycyrrhetinic acid is an effective and safe strategy for remodeling fibrotic TME by improving the therapeutic outcome for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop, evaluate, and optimize the mPEG-PLA/vitamin E-TPGS mixed micelle drug delivery system to encapsulate celecoxib (CXB) and honokiol (HNK) for intravenous treatment of breast cancer. To this end, we formulated CXB-loaded mPEG-PLA/vitamin E-TPGS (PV-CXB) and HNK-loaded mPEG-PLA/vitamin E-TPGS (PV-HNK) mixed micelles and analyzed their characteristics. The 4T1 cell line was used for cytotoxicity determination and cellular uptake experiments, and for establishing a 4T1-bearing mouse model for histopathology, immunofluorescence, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling, and Western blot analysis. The synergistic effects of PV-CXB and PV-HNK combination therapy were investigated in vitro and in vivo using the coefficient of drug interaction values. The mean size of PV-CXB and PV-HNK prepared with optimal formulation was approximately 50 nm, with a spherical shape. PV-CXB and PV-HNK combination therapy exhibited cytotoxicity in 4T1 cells in vitro. However, the toxicity of PV-CXB and PV-HNK combination therapy was not apparent in normal tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) in vivo and reduced the expression of collagen fibers in tumor tissues. Moreover, the combination therapy reduced the expression of tumor growth biomarkers (Foxp3, CD4, Gr-1, CD11b, CD31, Ki67, FoxM1, and VEGF). In addition, the tumor cell apoptosis rate reached 45.71 ± 0.62%. The combined treatment with PV-CXB and PV-HNK showed synergistic effect both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the PV-CXB and PV-HNK drug delivery system could be used as a potential combination therapy for breast cancer. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]