ABSTRACT
Lymph nodes are primary germination and proliferation sites for many types of pathogens. Maintaining therapeutic levels of appropriate chemotherapeutic agents in the lymph node tissue is critical for the treatment of both infection and cancer. This study was intended to develop a systemic route for loading lymph node phagocytes with drugs, using a lymph node specific nanocarrier. The latter is assembled as a 10-15 nm particle with a drug-carrying core and a phagocyte-homing poly(1-->6)-alpha-d-glucose based interface. Biokinetics and microdistribution of the model carrier were investigated in vivo. Nanocarrier accumulation in lymph nodes reached 30-35% dose/g in central lymph nodes, with deposition in various phagocytic cell populations. The latter included cells harboring inhaled microparticles translocated to lymph nodes from the lungs. In view of the nanocarrier ability to transport and release significant amounts of various drug substances, the data suggests feasibility of systemic drug loading to lymphatic phagocytes and, through drug release, to the neighboring cells.
Subject(s)
Glucose/analogs & derivatives , Glucose/metabolism , Lymph Nodes/metabolism , Nanotechnology/methods , Phagocytes/metabolism , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Drug Administration Routes , Drug Delivery Systems , Feasibility Studies , Female , Kinetics , Lymph Nodes/cytology , Lymphatic System/metabolism , Male , Particle Size , Phagocytes/cytology , Rabbits , Rats , Rats, Inbred F344 , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
A water soluble macromolecular conjugate of camptothecin (CPT) with a new, dual phase hydrolytic drug release mechanism was prepared on the basis of a 60 kDa biodegradable hydrophilic "stealth" polyacetal, poly(1-hydroxymethylethylene hydroxy-methyl formal). Succinamido-glycinate was used as a prodrug releasing group. A model preparation with 7.5% CPT content w/w was water soluble. The lipophilic camptothecin prodrug, camptothecin-(O20)-succinimidoglycinate, was released from the conjugate with t(1/2) = 2.2 +/- 0.1 h in rodent plasma. The blood clearance in a rodent model as measured by CPT was release limited, t(1/2) = 2.1 +/- 0.2 h, while the conjugate half-life was 14.2 +/- 1.7 h. In a xenograft tumor model, the conjugate demonstrated higher antineoplastic efficacy than CPT at a less than equitoxic dose. This improved therapeutic window is in line with the modified drug pharmacokinetics and with camptothecin release in a stabilized lipophilic prodrug form. Regulation of prodrug release and hydrolysis rates through linker structure modification will open the way to further improve both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
