Evaluation of a nanotechnology-based carrier for delivery of curcumin in prostate cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract.We have initiated studies to enhance targeted delivery of an anticancer agent, curcumin, for prostate cancer treatment by incorporating this agent into the liposomes (nanodelivery vehicles primarily composed of phospholipids) coated with prostate membrane specific antigen specific antibodies. We prepared curcumin-loaded liposomes of various lipid compositions by sonication at an average size of 100-150 nm. Un-entrapped curcumin was removed by size exclusion chromatography. Data show that curcumin preferentially partitioned into liposomes prepared from dimyristoyl phosphatidyl choline (DMPC) and cholesterol among the various compositions tested. The anti-proliferative activity of liposomal curcumin was studied using two human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP and C4-2B) by a tetrazolium dyebased (MTT) assay. Treatment of cells with liposomal curcumin (5-10 μM) for 24-48 h at 37˚C resulted in at least 70-80% inhibition of cellular proliferation without affecting their viability. On the other hand, free curcumin exhibited similar inhibition only at 10-fold higher doses (>50 μM). We also observed that LNCaP cells were relatively more sensitive to liposomal curcumin mediated block of cellular proliferation than C4-2B cells. We are currently developing liposome formulations with targeting ability to further improve the efficacy of curcumin in vivo.

Liposomal curcumin inhibits Lewis lung cancer growth primarily through inhibition of angiogenesis

“…This result may be associated with the inhibition of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in endothelial cells in vitro. Liposomal curcumin has been reported to exhibit anti-cancer activity on colorectal cancer (19), prostate cancer (20), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (21), and pancreatic (22) and cervical cancer (23). In this study, we revealed that liposomal curcumin inhibits tumor growth in the Lewis lung cancer mouse model primarily by targeting tumor angiogenesis.…”

Current status of nanotechnology in urology

“…Doxorubicin has been the focus of investigation due to the fact that it is one of the most effective first-line anticancer therapeutics developed, but its toxicity in many organs limits its use. [13][14][15][16] Doxil (doxorubicin), the first nanodrug approved by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995, was based on the work by Barenholz on a liposomal-based doxorubicin formulation. A key concept in developing the doxorubicin-liposomes was the enhanced permeability and retention effect, which results from differences in vasculature between benign and malignant tissue.…”

Nanotechnology-based approaches in anticancer research

“…72 In another study, liposome preparations of curcumin exhibited superior antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on six pancreatic cancer cells, and also inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in mouse models. 73 Use of the ionophore method of drug loading allows much higher drug:lipid ratios than the conventional citrate method. 74 This formulation has given excellent results in studies comparing the efficacy of conventional CHOP (chemotherapy treatment composed of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) and CHOP in which the vincristine has been replaced by LNP-vincristine.…”