Design, development, and in-vitro/in-vivo evaluation of docetaxel-loaded PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles in prostate cancer therapy.

Docetaxel (DOC) is a potent anticancer molecule widely used to treat various cancers. However, its therapeutic efficacy as a potential anticancer agent has been limited owing to poor aqueous solubility, short circulation time, rapid reticuloendothelial system uptake, and high renal clearance, which consecutively showed poor bioavailability. In the present investigation, we developed polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) using the solvent diffusion method to increase the biopharmaceutical properties of DOC. PEG monostearate (SA-PEG2000) was initially synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques. Afterwards, DOC-loaded SLN was synthesized with and without SA-PEG2000and systematically characterized for in-vitro and in-vivo properties. Spherical-shaped SA-PEG2000-DOC SLN showed hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of 177 nm and -13 mV, respectively. During the in-vitro release study DOC-loaded SLN showed a controlledrelease of approximately 54.35 % ± 5.46 within 12 h with Higuchi release kinetics in the tumor microenvironment (pH 5.5).In an in-vitro cytotoxicity study,SA-PEG2000-DOC SLN showedsignificantlylower IC50values(p < 0.001)compared to DOC-SLN and DOC aloneagainst prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3). Similarly, an in-vitro cellular uptake study showed a significant increase in intracellular DOC concentration for SA-PEG2000-DOC SLN. Additionally, inin-vivostudies,PEGylated SLN of DOC showed around 2- and 15-fold increase in the maximum concentration of drug (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC), respectively, as compared to plain DOC solution due to the uniquehydrophilicity and hydrophobicity balance and electrical neutrality of specially designed PEG architect. The biological half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) was found to increase from 8.55 and 11.43 to 34.96 and 47.68 h, respectively, with SA-PEG2000-DOC SLN. Moreover, the bio-distribution study indicates high DOC concentration in the plasma which signifies the more pronounced blood residence time of SA-PEG2000-DOC SLN. In a nutshell, SA-PEG2000-DOC SLNwasfound to bea promising and efficient drug delivery platform for the management of Metastatic Prostate cancer.

Delocalized Lipophilic Cation Triphenyl Phosphonium: Promising Molecule for Mitochondria Targeting.

The mitochondria are a dynamic powerhouse organelle that contributes greatly to cancer therapy. Solving the current problems that occur mostly in chemotherapy and diagnosis of various cancers targeting the Mitochondria is an implying approach. In this review, it is discussed how the tethering of mitochondrial-targeting moieties to chemotherapeutics, fluorescent dyes and photothermal molecules can enhance the anticancer effect. The most extensively used mitochondrial targeting conjugate is Triphenyl phosphonium (TPP), which is a delocalized lipophilic cation that gets easily accumulated via the endocytosis mechanism due to the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential of the cancer cell. Credited for this characteristic, TPP has been extensively investigated in targeting mitochondria and delivery of cancer theranostics. This mitochondrial targeting strategy attracted great attention in cancer targeting nanotechnology. The TPP based nanoformulation have exhibited amplified therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of various cancer. Thus, TPP is an ultimate carrier with magnificent potential as a mitochondrial targeting agent.

Dequalinium-Derived Nanoconstructs: A Promising Vehicle for Mitochondrial Targeting.

The cell's power house, mitochondrion, is a vital organelle for drug targeting in the treatment of many diseases due to its fundamental duties and function related to cell proliferation and death. The mitochondrial membrane comprises bilayer artifact and poses extremely negative potential, creating hurdles for therapeutic molecules in reaching mitochondria. To accomplish mitochondrial targeting, the scientific community has explored diverse pharmaceutical formulations like liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), and inorganic NPs. However, the game changing technology was a modification of these carriers by mitochondriotropic moiety, dequalinium chloride (DQA) or delivering the chemotherapeutics by DQAsomes. The DQA represents a distinctive mitochondriotropic delocalized cation that displays their selectivity towards accumulation in mitochondria of carcinoma cells. Attributed to this characteristics, DQAsomes have been formulated using DQA and explored for successful mitochondrial targeting of bioactives. In this review, it is discussed the effectiveness of DQA nanocarriers which efficiently and selectively transmit the cytotoxic drug to the tumor cell. The DQA based nanoformulations have evidently displayed augmented pharmacological and therapeutic outcomes than their counterparts both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, DQAsomes symbolizes an ideal carrier with excellent potential as mitochondrial targeting agent.