Decoration of a Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Shelled Selol Nanocapsule with Folic Acid Increases Its Activity Against Different Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro

Abstract

Due to the low therapeutic index of different chemotherapeutic drugs used for cancer treatment, the development of new anticancer drugs remains an intense field of research. A recently developed mixture of selenitetriacylglycerides, selol, was shown to be active against different cancer cells in vitro. As this compound is highly hydrophobic, it was encapsulated, in a previous study, into poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-shelled nanocapsules in order to improve its dispersibility in aqueous media. Following this line of research, the present report aimed at enhancing the In Vitro activity of the selol nanocapsules against cancerous cells by decorating their surface with folic acid. It is known that several cancer cells overexpress folate receptors. Stable folic acid-decorated selol nanocapsules (SNP-FA) were obtained, which showed to be spherical, with a hydro-dynamic diameter of 364 nm, and zeta potential of -24 mV. In comparison to non-decorated selol nanocapsules, SNP-FA presented higher activity against 4T1, MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Moreover, the decoration of the nanocapsules did not alter their toxicity towards fibroblasts, NIH-3T3 cells. These results show that the decoration with folic acid increased the toxicity of selol nanocapsules to cancer cells. These nanocapsules, besides enabling to disperse selol in an aqueous medium, increased the toxicity of this drug In Vitro, and may be useful to treat cancer in vivo, potentially increasing the specificity of selol towards cancer cells.

Towards C1 chemistry: methanol vinylation by CaC2 in water in the presence of potassium or sodium carbonates

“…Among the poly(vinyl ethers), poly(methyl vinyl ether) is a special case because it belongs to the class of thermo‐responsive polymers and exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 36 °C . Copolymers of MVE with maleic anhydride are widely used in medicine and pharmacology, in paper and textile industries, for manufacture of cosmetics and toiletry, as bioadhesives for drug delivery options and components of cellulosic biocomposites . Besides, these copolymers form interpolymer complexes possessing valuable properties …”

“…MVE easily forms water-soluble and water-swelling polymers [Lutonal M-40 (BASF), Gantrez M (GAF)], which are applied as effective adhesives and coatings, non-migrating plasticizers, printing inks and thickeners. 7,23 Among the poly(vinyl ethers), poly(methyl vinyl ether) is a special case because it belongs to the class of thermo-responsive polymers and exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 36 ∘ C. 24,25 Copolymers of MVE with maleic anhydride are widely used in medicine and pharmacology, [26][27][28][29][30] in paper and textile industries, 7,23 for manufacture of cosmetics and toiletry, 7,31 as bioadhesives for drug delivery options [32][33][34] and components of cellulosic biocomposites. 35,36 Besides, these copolymers form interpolymer complexes possessing valuable properties.…”

Combination of selol nanocapsules and magnetic hyperthermia hinders breast tumor growth in aged mice after a short-time treatment

“…Selol-containing nanomaterials have been shown to be active against different cancer cells including melanoma (B16-F10) [48], oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) [49], breast (4T1 and MCF-7) [12,50,51], and lung (A549) [52] adenocarcinoma. The selol concentration range varied from 25 to 500 μg ml −1 and the exposure time from 3 to 72 h. In general, phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA fragmentation, changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and oxidative cellular damage were linked to selol-containing nanomaterial exposure.…”

Dual-Polymeric Resin Based on Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) and PAMAM Dendrimer as a Versatile Supramolecular Adsorbent

“…The material was successfully described as a singlet oxygen−generating system causing cell death after its prior transfection. The polymer may also play a role of coating material, which was implemented for encapsulation of hydrophobic selol nanocapsules−a mixture of selenitetriacylglycerides, exhibiting proved anticancer activity. , The PMVEAMA/selol nanoparticles surface−functionalized with folic acid as a targeting marker exhibited high cytotoxicity towards 4T1, MCF−7, HeLa, and NIH−3T3 cancer cell lines, reaching cell viabilities approximately of 15%.…”