It was the first time that 3-octadecylcarbamoylacrylicacid-cisplatin nanocomplexes (OMI-CDDP-N) were synthesized via monocarboxylato and O→Pt coordination. The nanocomplexes exhibited lower IC values compared with cisplatin (CDDP) in vitro, and enhanced antitumor efficacy in murine liver cancer (H) in vivo. However, the toxicity of the nanocomplexes was more severe than CDDP. OMI-CDDP-N-based liposome (OCP-L) was prepared in order to maintain the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of OMI-CDDP-N. Here, a series of parameters were investigated to optimize liposome formulation. The optimal formulation was CDDP/phospholipids/cholesterol (1/10/0.7 wt.%), with distilled water as hydration medium and an encapsulation efficiency of 94.2 ± 2.1%. In vitro cytotoxicity studies revealed that OCP-L and OMI-CDDP-N exhibited a lower IC compared with commercial cisplatin injection (CDDP-S) in a variety of human cancer cells. In H-implanted mice, OCP-L showed a significantly higher antitumor activity than OMI-CDDP-N or CDDP-S at a dose of 5 mg/kg (p < 0.01). Moreover, OCP-L exceeded the size cutoff for kidney clearance, hence it bypassed the nephrotoxicity of CDDP which is a major curse of CDDP in the clinic. These results suggested that the unique OMI-CDDP-N-entrapped liposome can overcome the disadvantages associated with conventional CDDP therapy and provide a higher safety profile.

Liposome-based drug delivery system would be an innovative and promising candidate to circumvent multidrug resistance (MDR) of cisplatin (CDDP). However, the reversal efficacy of liposomal CDDP was severely impaired by weak cellular uptake and insufficient intracellular drug release. In this study, 3-octadecylcarbamoylacrylic acid–CDDP nanocomplex (OMI–CDDP–N)-based liposomes (OCP-L) with high cellular uptake and sufficient intracellular drug release were designed to circumvent MDR of lung cancer. OMI–CDDP–N was synthesized through a pH-sensitive monocarboxylato and an O→Pt coordinate bond, which is more efficient than CDDP. Also, OCP-L incorporated with OMI–CDDP–N could induce effective cellular uptake, enhanced nuclear distribution, and optimal cellular uptake kinetics. In particular, OCP-L presented superior effects on enhancing cell apoptosis and in vitro cytotoxicity in CDDP-resistant human lung cancer (A549/CDDP) cells. The mechanisms of MDR reversal in A549/CDDP cells by OCP-L could attribute to organic cation transporter 2 restoration, ATPase copper-transporting beta polypeptide suppression, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α-subunit depletion, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway inhibition. These results demonstrated that OCP-L may provide an effective delivery of CDDP to resistant cells to circumvent MDR and enhance the therapeutic index of the chemotherapy.