ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) model was used to optimize the formulation of paclitaxel (PTX)-cepharanthine (CEP) nanoparticles for gastric cancer. METHODS: Nanoparticles were prepared using nanoprecipitation technique and optimized using central composite rotatable design response surface methodology (CCRD-RSM). Further the optimized nanoparticles were characterised for particle size (PS), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), drug loading efficiency (DL), anticancer potential against MKN45 (human gastric cancer) cells, in vivo tumor inhibition and survival analysis. RESULTS: Significant findings were the optimal formulation of polymer concentration of 48 mg, surfactant concentration of 45% and EE of 98.12%, DL of 15.61% and mean diameter of 198±4.7 nm. The encapsulation of PTX/CEP into nanoparticles retained the synergistic anticancer efficiency against MKN45 cells. In the in vivo evaluation, PTXsCEP nanoparticles delivered into mice by intravenous injection significantly improved the antitumor efficacy of PTX/CEP. Moreover, PTX/CEP co-loaded nanoparticles substantially increased the overall survival in an established MKN45-transplanted mouse model. CONCLUSION: These data are the first to demonstrate that PTX/CEP co-loaded nanoparticles increased the anticancer efficacy in cell lines and xenograft mouse model. Our results suggest that PTX/CEP coloaded nanoparticles could be a potential useful chemotherapeutic formulation for gastric cancer.
