Prabhu S., Kanthamneni N.
College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, US
Keywords: chemoprevention, colon cancer, nanotechnology, therapeutic system
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the USA. Current research is shifting the focus from chemotherapy to chemoprevention. The overall goal was to develop a low dose, novel combination of chemopreventive agents delivered using a unique nanotechnology-based colon-targeting delivery system for synergistic chemoprevention of CRC. Recently, aspirin, calcium and folic acid have received significant attention as they show individual effects in reducing CRC. Interest in combination therapy has been increasing, as the promise of synergistic efficacy with minimized toxicity is apparent. Using colon cancer cell lines as surrogate biomarkers, we have identified synergistic activity of aspirin with calcium and/or folic acid. Selecting an appropriate drug delivery system is also of importance to ensure that drug reaches its intended site of action. Here, we show the feasibility of preparing a colon-targeted aspirin and folic acid loaded nanoparticulate drug delivery system with a high encapsulation efficiency and narrow size range. Preliminary in vitro drug release studies with aspirin loaded nanoparticles show a controlled pattern of drug release over a 48-96h period. Thus, we demonstrate the capability of drug-loaded nanoparticles to be targeted directly to the colon at low doses for prolonged chemopreventive action.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2007 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 20, 2007
Pages: 359 - 361
Industry sector: Medical & Biotech
Topics: Biomaterials, Materials for Drug & Gene Delivery
ISBN: 1-4200-6183-6