Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery to Breast Cancer Cells utilizing Biodegradable Salt Nanoparticles

Inorganic pH-sensitive nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as powerful vehicles for delivering chemotherapeutics agent into cancer cells while decreasing undesired cytotoxicity in healthy tissues. In this study, carbonate apatite (CA) NPs were modified with selective Krebs cycle intermediates to formulate citrate-modified CA (CMCA), succinate-modified CA (SMCA) and α-ketoglutaric acid-modified CA (α-KAMCA) NPs. The interactions between selected anticancer drugs, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and AZ628 with these nanoparticles were investigated. The NPs were further evaluated in animal models of breast cancer for their biodistribution profiles and potential toxicity, and enhancement of tumour regression capacity of the selective anti-cancer drug.