HER-2 targeted immunonanoparticles for breast cancer chemotherapy.

The success of anti-cancer drug targeting is depends on the ability of the therapeutics to reach their desirable cellular and intracellular sites and minimizing action at the nonspecific sites. In the present study, anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2, ErbB2) antibody anchored nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated for the assessment of targeting potential in breast cancer cell. In an attempt for comparison of carrier system for site-selective delivery, docetaxel loaded PLGA nanoparticles, PLGA-PEG nanoparticles and PLGA-PEG immunonanoparticles capable of targeting breast cancer were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The drug-loaded nanoparticles were characterized for their size and size distribution, surface charge, drug encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release. Our results demonstrate that docetaxel loaded PLGA-PEG immunonanoparticles strongly enhances the site specific uptake and high cytotoxic effect at targeted sites, as compared with PLGA, PLGA-PEG nanoparticles. In conclusion polymeric immunonanoparticles could be a promising carrier for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancers.

Liposomes as adjuvant for combination vaccines.

In the present study tetanus toxoid (TT) loaded liposomes and diphtheria toxoid (DT) loaded liposomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation method and after combining these two vaccines the potential advantages were investigated. Prepared systems were characterized for the size, shape and entrapment efficiency. SDS-PAGE analysis of TT and DT was also performed. The selected liposomal formulations were administered subcutaneously to Balb/c mice and their immune responses were determined using ELISA after 15, 30, 45 days. After boosting the maximum immune response was observed after 45 days and was found to be 0.831 and 0.749 for TT loaded liposome and DT loaded liposomes respectively. When the mice were immunized subcutaneously with the physical mixture of TT loaded liposomes and DT loaded liposomes the immune response for the combination vaccine was found to be 1.44 and 0.741 for the TT and DT respectively. The result showed that the immune response of TT increased when it was combined with DT in liposomes. This confirms adjuvantcity of DT vis-a-vis immunogenicity. Thus, carrier mediated cocktail vaccination holds promise for clinical applications.