Hyaluronan-estradiol nanogels as potential drug carriers to target ER+ breast cancer cell line.

L Paoletti, N Zoratto, M Benvenuto, D Nardozi, V Angiolini, P Mancini, L Masuelli, R Bei, G V Frajese, P Matricardi, M Nalli, C Di Meo

Journal: Carbohydrate polymers 2023;314():120900

PMID: 37173041

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Abstract

An innovative hyaluronan-based nano-delivery system is proposed for the active targeting towards ER+ breast cancer. Hyaluronic acid (HA), an endogenous and bioactive anionic polysaccharide, is functionalized with estradiol (ES), a sexual hormone involved in the development of some hormone-dependent tumors, to give an amphiphilic derivative (HA-ES) able to spontaneously self-assemble in water to form soft nanoparticles or nanogels (NHs). The synthetic strategy used to obtain the polymer derivatives and the physico-chemical properties of the obtained nanogels (ES-NHs) are reported. ES-NHs ability to entrap hydrophobic molecules has also been investigated, by loading curcumin (CUR) and docetaxel (DTX), both able to inhibit the growth of ER+ breast cancer. The formulations are studied for their capability to inhibit the growth of the MCF-7 cell line, thus evaluating their efficacy and potential as a selective drug delivery systems. Our results demonstrate that ES-NHs have not toxic effects on the cell line, and that both ES-NHs/CUR and ES-NHs/DTX treatments inhibit MCF-7 cell growth, with ES-NHs/DTX effect higher than that of free DTX. Our findings support the use of ES-NHs to deliver drugs to ER+ breast cancer cells, assuming a receptor-dependent targeting.

Address: Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.; Saint Camillus International, University of Health and Medical Sciences, Via di Sant'Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.; Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.; Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.; Department of Sports Science, Human and Health, University of Rome 'Foro Italico', Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy.; Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120900

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https://medlineplus.gov/breastcancer.html

MeSH Terms: Humans, Female, Drug Carriers, Breast Neoplasms, Hyaluronic Acid, Nanogels, Estradiol, Docetaxel, Drug Delivery Systems, Curcumin, MCF-7 Cells, Nanoparticles, Cell Line, Tumor, Antineoplastic Agents