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Afrifa MAO, Kim JH, Pitton KA, Olelewe C, Arojojoye AS, Strachan DR, Suckow MA, Awuah SG. Auranofin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Demonstrate Potency against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:2012-2022. [PMID: 38450675 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a clinical challenge due to molecular, metabolic, and genetic heterogeneity as well as the lack of validated drug targets. Thus, therapies or delivery paradigms are needed. Gold-derived compounds including the FDA-approved drug, auranofin have shown promise as effective anticancer agents against several tumors. To improve the solubility and bioavailability of auranofin, we hypothesized that the nanodelivery of auranofin using biodegradable chitosan modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) will enhance anticancer activity against TNBC by comparing the best nanoformulation with the free drug. The selection of the nanoformulation was based on synthesis of various chitosan PEG copolymers via formaldehyde-mediated engraftment of PEG onto chitosan to form [chitosan-g-PEG] copolymer. Furthermore, altered physiochemical properties of the copolymer was based on the formaldehyde ratio towards nanoparticles (CP 1-4 NPs). Following the recruitment of PEG onto the chitosan polymer surface, we explored how this process influenced the stiffness of the nanoparticle using atomic force microscopy (AFM), a factor crucial for in vitro and in vivo studies. Our objective was to ensure the full functionality and inherent properties of chitosan as the parent polymer was maintained without allowing PEG to overshadow chitosan's unique cationic properties while improving solubility in neutral pH. Hence, CP 2 NP was chosen. To demonstrate the efficacy of CP 2 NP as a good delivery carrier for auranofin, we administered a dose of 3 mg/kg of auranofin, in contrast to free auranofin, which was given at 5 mg/kg. In vivo studies revealed the potency of encapsulated auranofin against TNBC cells with a severe necrotic effect following treatment superior to that of free auranofin. In conclusion, chitosan-g-PEG nanoparticles have the potential to be an excellent delivery system for auranofin, increasing its effectiveness and potentially reducing its clinical limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maame Abena O Afrifa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jong H Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Kathryn A Pitton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Douglas R Strachan
- Department of Astronomy and Physics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Mark A Suckow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Markey NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Bioelectronics and Nanomedicine Research Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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Forgie BN, Prakash R, Goyeneche AA, Telleria CM. Vitality, viability, long-term clonogenic survival, cytotoxicity, cytostasis and lethality: what do they mean when testing new investigational oncology drugs? Discov Oncol 2024; 15:5. [PMID: 38180601 PMCID: PMC10769964 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00857-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the field of experimental therapeutics for oncology purposes researchers are continuously evaluating the toxicity of novel treatment approaches against cancer cells. Within this topic of research, it is highly critical to define parameters of toxicity that denote when cancer cells are perturbed in their functionality by a new investigational drug. As the goal for these approaches is to achieve cellular demise, then what approaches to use and what do they mean in terms of assessing such cell death is of critical importance. In this comment article we highlight the definition of vitality and differentiate it from viability, and further define clonogenic survival in a chronic fashion. Additionally, we highly recommend the use of the term cytotoxicity as a general descriptor indicating toxicity towards a cell, but within that we encourage to sub-classify it as either cytostasis (i.e., when a treatment does not allow a cell to grow but it does not kill it either), or lethality (when a cell dies in response to the treatment). A more precise use of these terms should help advance the field of experimental therapeutics in oncology towards better defining the mechanisms of action of novel investigational drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin N Forgie
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rewati Prakash
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alicia A Goyeneche
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Carlos M Telleria
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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