Development of putrescine anchored nano-crystalsomes bearing doxorubicin and oleanolic acid: deciphering their role in inhibiting metastatic breast cancer

Angiogenesis driven tumor initiation and progression calls for a targeted therapy. Moreover, combined chemotherapy supplements the therapy to act on the cause of concern. In this study, we aimed to develop a targeted crystalsomes approach to delineate tumor cells against normal cells. Self-assembled crystalline monodispersed nanosized polyethylene-polyethylene glycol (PE-PEG)-based hollow crystalsomes were modified with pluronylated putrescine (Put-PF) and loaded with doxorubicin (Dox), synergistically in combination with oleanolic acid (OA) to target the glypican-1 (gp-1) receptor on tumor cells. The developed crystalsomes (Put-D + O@NCs) showed increased intracellular accumulation of Dox and OA in a synergistic combination inside the MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The developed crystalsomes marked an enhanced depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and cell cycle arrest leading to apoptosis. Furthermore, the proposed therapy has a greater anti-angiogenesis activity with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dependent modulation in the proliferation, invasion, migration and tube formation of human endothelial umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) in vitro and in vivo in a BALB/c mouse model. Interestingly, the perseverance of the tumor boundary, inhibiting the expression and activity of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) (>5.2-fold) with suppressed degradation of the extracellular matrix paves the way for significant inhibition of metastases. However, an intravenously administered Put-D + O@NCs showed an improved pharmacokinetic profile and exquisite inhibition of the 4T1 induced tumor with a significantly lower toxicity. In a nutshell, these findings highlight the important role of Put in the gp-1 receptor for specific targeting and synergistic delivery of Dox and OA through crystalsomes as a potential approach for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer using combined chemotherapy.

Automated summary

The study developed a targeted crystalsomes approach containing Dox and OA for tumor cells, which showed significant efficacy on MDA-MB-231 cells and anti-angiogenesis activity. The therapy also exhibited inhibition of tumor growth in a mouse model and had a lower toxicity.