Biodistribution of radiolabeled polyglutamic acid and PEG-polyglutamic acid nanocapsules.

Recently we reported the development of 100nm polyglutamic acid (PGA)-based nanocapsules, which were intended to carry anticancer drugs to the lymphatic system (Abellan-Pose et al., 2016). In this work, the objective was to further assess the potential "lympho-targeting" properties of radiolabeled 111In-PGA and 111In-PGA-PEG, following intravenous or subcutaneous administration. The results indicate that, following intravenous administration, both types of nanocapsules exhibit a modest accumulation in the lymph nodes (⩽2.3% ID/g). On the contrary, following subcutaneous administration, and irrespective of the presence of PEG on their surface, the nanocapsules were found to form a reservoir at the injection site, from which they drained slowly into the popliteal and the iliac lymph nodes. The significant accumulation of the radiolabeled nanocapsules in the lymph nodes was attained at 24 and 48h post-injection, reaching values comprised between 70% and 187% ID/g in the popliteal lymph nodes. Altogether, the results led us to validate our hypothesis about the ability of the PGA and PGA-PEG nanocapsules to reach the lymphatic system, especially following subcutaneous administration.

Docetaxel-loaded polyglutamic acid-PEG nanocapsules for the treatment of metastatic cancer.

The design of nanomedicines with suitable physicochemical characteristics for the lymphatic targeting of drugs is critical in order to reach the lymph nodes, where metastatic cells often accumulate. Based on the known effect of particle size and surface hydrophilicity on the capacity of nanocarriers to reach the lymph nodes, here we report the formation and characterization of 100nm polyglutamic acid-polyethylene glycol (PGA-PEG) nanocapsules together with the assessment of their potential for the treatment of cancer with lymphatic metastatic spread. To this purpose, we first studied the biodistribution of fluorescently labeled PGA-PEG nanocapsules (100nm), following, either intravenous or subcutaneous administration. The results confirmed the accumulation of nanocapsules in the lymphatic system, especially upon subcutaneous administration. Next, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of the docetaxel-loaded nanocapsules in an orthotopic lung cancer model that metastasizes to the lymph nodes. As expected from the rational design, DCX-loaded PGA-PEG nanocapsules exhibited a greatly enhanced antitumoral efficacy and a reduced toxicity when compared with the commercial formulation Taxotere®. Furthermore, the administration of DCX-loaded PGA-PEG nanocapsules resulted in the practical elimination of the metastatic load in the mediastinal lymph nodes, whereas the treatment with the commercial formulation had a minor effect. Overall, these findings underscore the potential of PGA-PEG nanocapsules for the delivery of anticancer drugs to both, the tumor tissue and the metastatic lymph nodes. Therefore, they represent a promising therapy for the treatment of lung metastatic cancer.

Selective interaction of PEGylated polyglutamic acid nanocapsules with cancer cells in a 3D model of a metastatic lymph node.

BACKGROUND: Metastases are the most common reason of cancer death in patients with solid tumors. Lymph nodes, once invaded by tumor cells, act as reservoirs before cancer cells spread to distant organs. To address the limited access of intravenously infused chemotherapeutics to the lymph nodes, we have developed PEGylated polyglutamic acid nanocapsules (PGA-PEG NCs), which have shown ability to reach and to accumulate in the lymphatic nodes and could therefore act as nanotransporters. Once in the lymphatics, the idea is that these nanocapsules would selectively interact with cancer cells, while avoiding non-specific interactions with immune cells and the appearance of subsequent immunotoxicity. RESULTS: The potential of the PGA-PEG NCs, with a mean size of 100 nm and a negative zeta potential, to selectively reach metastatic cancer cells, has been explored in a novel 3D model that mimics an infiltrated lymph node. Our 3D model, a co-culture of cancer cells and lymphocytes, allows performing experiments under dynamic conditions that simulate the lymphatic flow. After perfusion of the nanocarriers, we observe a selective interaction with the tumor cells. Efficacy studies manifest the need to develop specific therapies addressed to treat metastatic cells that can be in a dormant state. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence of the ability of PGA-PEG NCs to selectively interact with the tumor cells in presence of lymphocytes, highlighting their potential in cancer therapeutics. We also state the importance of designing precise in vitro models that allow performing mechanistic assays, to efficiently develop and evaluate specific therapies to confront the formation of metastasis.

Polyaminoacid nanocapsules for drug delivery to the lymphatic system: Effect of the particle size.

Previous work by our group showed the possibility to reduce the toxicity of docetaxel upon its encapsulation in polyaminoacid nanocapsules with a size of 200nm. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether a reduction in the nanocapsules size might facilitate their access to the lymphatic system. To do so, we analyzed the effect of several formulation parameters on the characteristics of polyglutamic acid, PEGylated polyglutamic acid and polyasparagine nanocapsules. From these experiments, we could identify the best conditions to produce nanocapsules with a small size (close to 100nm) and adequate capacity to encapsulate and sustain the release of the antitumor drug docetaxel. Moreover, the results of the stability study made evident the critical role of the polyaminoacid shell on the colloidal stability of the nanocapsules in biologically relevant media. Finally, we studied the influence of the particle size (100nm vs. 200nm) on the biodistribution of PGA-PEG nanocapsules following subcutaneous injection. The results showed that the 100 nm-size nanocapsules accumulate faster in the lymph nodes, than those with a size of 200nm. In summary, these data suggest the potential of 100nm-size polyaminoacid nanocapsules as lymphatic drug delivery carriers.

Lymphatic Targeting of Nanosystems for Anticancer Drug Therapy.

The lymphatic system represents a major route of dissemination in metastatic cancer. Given the lack of selectivity of conventional chemotherapy to prevent lymphatic metastasis, in the last years there has been a growing interest in the development of nanocarriers showing lymphotropic characteristics. The goal of this lymphotargeting strategy is to facilitate the delivery of anticancer drugs to the lymph node-resident cancer cells, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the anti-cancer therapies. This article focuses on the nanosystems described so far for the active or passive targeting of oncological drugs to the lymphatic circulation. To understand the design and performance of these nanosystems, we will discuss first the physiology of the lymphatic system and how physiopathological changes associated to tumor growth influence the biodistribution of nanocarriers. Second, we provide evidence on how the tailoring of the physicochemical characteristics of nanosystems, i.e. particle size, surface charge and hydrophilicity, allows the modulation of their access to the lymphatic circulation. Finally, we provide an overview of the relationship between the biodistribution and antimetastatic activity of the nanocarriers loaded with oncological drugs, and illustrate the most promising active targeting approaches investigated so far.