Cancer, a heterogeneous disease is caused by genetic and epigenetic mutation. Irinotecan was indicated for treatment of colorectal cancer either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drug. Due to associated toxicity, irinotecan was less explored in cancer therapy research. In recent years, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were well explored for different biomedical applications including targeted drug delivery.
We hypothesized that the anticancer activity of irinotecan would improve when attached to the surface of MNPs. Magnetic nanoparticles were developed using in house developed method. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were recorded to characterize the irinotecan MNPs. In Vitro and in vivo evaluations were perfomed to assess the feasibility of this novel formulation using colon cancer cell lines.
Irinotecan MNPs were successfully developed with an average diameter of the magnetic core of 22 ± 5 nm and the thickness of the shell is around 7 ± 4 nm. Using colon cancer culture (HT-29 cells), we evaluated the effects of MNPs on cancer cell viability and apoptosis. Treatment of cancer cells with the irinotecan MNPs caused a greater decrease in cell viability and a higher rate of apoptosis compared with treatment using free irinotecan.
Although further clinical study is needed, the targeted uptake of irinotecan MNPs by colon cancer cells associated with their ability to eliminate and prevent further cancer cell growth indicates its potential for targeted and personalized cancer therapy with lower toxicity in patients with colon cancer.
Not Applicable
Akhilesh Vikram Singh.
Has not received any funding.
The author has declared no conflicts of interest.