Enhancing the Anticancer Activity and Selectivity of Goniothalamin Using pH-Sensitive Acetalated Dextran (Ac-Dex) Nanoparticles: A Promising Platform for Delivery of Natural Compounds

Autor(es)

Braga, Carolyne B. ; Kido, Larissa A. ; Lima, Ellen N. ; Lamas, Celina A. ; Cagnon, Valeria H. A. ; Ornelas, Catia ; Pilli, Ronaldo A.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING; v. 6, n. 5, p. 14-pg., 2020-05-01.

Resumo

Goniothalamin GTN), a natural compound isolated from Goniothalamus species, has previously demonstrated cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines. However, similarly to many natural and synthetic anticancer compounds, GTN presents toxicity toward some healthy cells and low aqueous solubility, decreasing its bioavailability and precluding its application as an antineoplastic drug. In our efforts to improve the pharmacokinetic behavior and selectivity of GTN against cancer cells, we developed a polymeric nanosystem, in which rac-GTN was encapsulated in pH-responsive acetalated dextran (Ac-Dex) nanoparticles (NPs) with high loadings of the bioactive compound. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed that the nanoparticles obtained presented a narrow size distribution of around 100 nm in diameter, whereas electron microscopy (EM) images showed nanoparticles with a regular spherical morphology in agreement with the size range obtained by DLS. Stability and release studies indicated that the GTN@Ac-Dex NPs presented high stability under physiological conditions (pH 7.4) and disassembled under slightly acidic conditions (pH 5.5), releasing the rac-GTN in a sustained manner. In vitro assays showed that GTN@Ac-Dex NPs significantly increased cytotoxicity and selectivity against cancer cells when compared with the empty Ac-Dex NPs and the free rac-GNT. Cellular uptake and morphology studies using MCF-7 cells demonstrated that GTN@Ac-Dex NPs are rapidly internalized into the cancer cells, causing cell death. In vivo investigation confirmed the efficient release of rac-GTN from GTN@Ac-Dex NPs, resulting in the delay of prostate cancer progression in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Furthermore, liver histopathology evaluation after treatment with GTN@Ac-Dex NPs showed no evidence of toxicity. Therefore, the in vitro and in vivo findings suggest that the Ac-Dex NPs are a promising nanosystem for the sustained delivery of rac-GTN into tumors. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/02093-0 - Desenvolvimento de novos nanomateriais para aplicações em nanomedicina
• Beneficiário: Cátia Cristina Capêlo Ornelas Megiatto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 08/57906-3 - Instituto Nacional de Fotônica Aplicada à Biologia Celular - INFABIC
• Beneficiário: Hernandes Faustino de Carvalho
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 17/06146-8 - Desenvolvimento de nanocarregadores baseados em dendrímeros e nanopartículas poliméricas para a vetorização seletiva da goniotalamina, piplartina e monastrol
• Beneficiário: Carolyne Brustolin Braga
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07607-8 - CMPO - Centro Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa em Obesidade e Doenças Associadas
• Beneficiário: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 19/13104-5 - Planejamento e síntese de inibidores baseado em alvo biológico: o caso das quinases negligenciadas
• Beneficiário: Ronaldo Aloise Pilli
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular