Cancer therapeutics with epigallocatechin-3-gallate encapsulated in biopolymeric nanoparticles

Abstract

With the recent quantum leap in chemoprevention by dietary products, their use as cancer therapeutics is garnering worldwide attention. The concept of effortlessly fighting this deadly disease by gulping cups of green tea or swallowing green tea extract capsules is appreciated universally. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol in green tea, has generated significant interest in controlling carcinogenesis due to its growth-inhibitory efficacy against a variety of cancers by targeting multiple signaling pathways. However, the success of EGCG in preclinical studies is difficult to translate into clinical trials due to issues of low solubility, bioavailability and an uncertain therapeutic window. The laborious and expensive journey of drugs from the laboratory to commercialization can be improved by utilizing nanoparticles as anti-cancer drug carriers. Exploitation of biopolymeric nanoparticles in recent years has improved EGCG's biodistribution, stability and tumor selectivity, revealing its superior chemopreventive effects. This review briefly summarizes recent developments regarding the targets and side effects of EGCG, complications associated with its low bioavailability and critically analyses the application of biopolymeric nanoparticles encapsulating EGCG as a next generation delivery systems.

Natural Compounds with Potential to Modulate Cancer Therapies and Self-Reactive Immune Cells

“…Direct attachment to the surface, encapsulation of the polyphenol (with the option of co-encapsulation with other compounds), or incorporation within the surface of the nanoparticle are examples of methods used to associate nanoparticles with polyphenols. Nanoparticles have been used to increase the efficacy of EGCG as a targeted cancer therapeutic [157,158]. EGCG compounds alone can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of cancer cells, although sometimes at doses that are not physiologically possible.…”

Cancer Chemoprevention Using Nanotechnology-Based Approaches

“…In the past few years, green tea and its major polyphenol, catechin have been demonstrated to superior chemoprevention activity on multiple cancer types mainly because of their antioxidant/pro-oxidant properties (Naponelli et al, 2017). To improve the drug's bioavailability, stability, and tumor selectivity, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have been widely studied (Tyagi et al, 2017). To study the chemoprevention efficacy of combination, gold-conjugated green tea NPs were designed that demonstrated selective toxicity towards Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma and breast cancer cells MCF-7 and interestingly had hepatoprotective behavior against the tumorinduced cellular damage (Mukherjee et al, 2015).…”

Effects of the Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Glioma: A Critical Evaluation of the Literature

“…Co-treatment of EGCG with piperine (from black pepper) enhances the bioavailability of EGCG by 1.3-fold in mice (73). Several studies have demonstrated that encapsulation of EGCG inside a po lymer matrix, such as chitosan-based nanocarriers, improves its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (74). Hence, the potential of EGCG in clinical applications is boosted by these technologies.…”