Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
nanocarrier size and preparation methods. This character makes it easy to
scale-up for translation, as discussed in Chapter 3. The nanocapsules have no
burst release but can release CPT quickly once inside the cells (Figure 11.4B).
In vivo tests showed that the nanocapsules had strong antitumor activity
(Figure 11.4C). 56
Another example is a self-assembling curcumin prodrug. Curcumin, a
substance in turmeric, has been shown to have high cytotoxicity towards
various cancer cell lines, 57 but its extremely low water solubility and stability
make its bioavailability exceedingly low and generally inactive in in vivo
anticancer tests. 58 Using the same concept, we conjugated curcumin with two
short OEG chains (Curc-OEG) via b-thioester bonds that are labile in the
presence of intracellular glutathione and esterases and obtained an intracel-
lular-labile amphiphilic surfactant-like curcumin prodrug: curcumin-OEG
(Curc-OEG) (Figure 11.5). 59 Curc-OEG formed stable nanoparticles in
aqueous conditions and served two roles: an anticancer prodrug and a drug
d n 4 y 3 n g | 5
Figure 11.5
(A) Structure of Curc-PEG and its self-assembly into micelles to perform
two functions: release curcumin and carry other drugs. (B) In vivo
antitumor activity of Curc-OEG against SKOV-3 (left and middle) and
MDA-MB-468
(right)
carcinoma
xenograft
models.
(Adapted
from
Tang et al. 59
with permission from Future Medicine.)
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search