Acid-sensitive lipidated doxorubicin prodrug entrapped in nanoemulsion impairs lung tumor metastasis in a breast cancer model

Abstract

Aim: To develop an acid-sensitive lipidated, doxorubicin (Dox) prodrug (C16-Dox) to be entrapped in lipid nanoemulsion (NE-C16-Dox) as a nanocarrier to treat breast cancer models (in vitro and in vivo). Results: We report the efficacy of NE-C16-Dox in in vitro experiments, as well as the improved chemotherapeutic index and tumor-control efficacy compared with treatment with free Dox in an in vivo murine 4T1 breast cancer model. In addition, NE-C16-Dox allowed the use of a higher dose of Dox, acceptable biocompatibility and a significant reduction in lung metastasis. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that NE-C16-Dox is promising for breast cancer treatment, thus creating possibilities to translate these nanotechnology concepts to clinical applications.