Denatured protein-coated docetaxel nanoparticles: Alterable drug state and cytosolic delivery

July 28, 2017

Title

Denatured protein-coated docetaxel nanoparticles: Alterable drug state and cytosolic delivery

Author

Li Zhang, Qingqing Xiao, Yiran Wang, Chenshuang Zhang, Wei He, Lifang Yin

Year

2017

Journal

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Abstract

Many lead compounds have a low solubility in water, which substantially hinders their clinical application. Nanosuspensions have been considered a promising strategy for the delivery of water-insoluble drugs. Here, denatured soy protein isolate (SPI)-coated docetaxel nanosuspensions (DTX-NS) were developed using an anti-solvent precipitation-ultrasonication method to improve the water-solubility of DTX, thus improving its intracellular delivery. DTX-NS, with a diameter of 150–250 nm and drug-loading up to 18.18%, were successfully prepared by coating drug particles with SPI. Interestingly, the drug state of DTX-NS was alterable. Amorphous drug nanoparticles were obtained at low drug-loading, whereas at a high drug-loading, the DTX-NS drug was mainly present in the crystalline state. Moreover, DTX-NS could be internalized at high levels by cancer cells and enter the cytosol by lysosomal escape, enhancing cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis compared with free DTX. Taken together, denatured SPI has a strong stabilization effect on nanosuspensions, and the drug state in SPI-coated nanosuspensions is alterable by changing the drug-loading. Moreover, DTX-NS could achieve cytosolic delivery, generating enhanced cell cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Instrument

J-810

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Protein denaturation, Chemical stability, Nanostructures, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical