Issue 3, 2024

Delivery of gefitinib loaded nanoparticles for effectively inhibiting prostate cancer progression

Abstract

Androgen deprivation therapy is administered to suppress the growth of prostate cancer (PCa). However, some cells continue to proliferate independent of hormones, leading to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been observed in CRPC and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Gefitinib (GEF) is an EGFR inhibitor used to treat patients with CRPC. Nevertheless, some clinical studies have reported that gefitinib does not result in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or objectively measurable CRPC reactions. This lack of response may be attributed to the limited solubility in water, high side effects, low tumor aggregation, and insufficient tumor-specific reactions of GEF. In order to tackle these obstacles, we present a practical and efficient approach to administer GEF, encompassing the utilization of biocompatible nanostructures as a vehicle for drug delivery to augment its bioaccessibility and curative potency. Despite their small particle size, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) exhibit a high drug-loading capacity, low toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and minimal immunogenicity. The drug delivery efficiency can be improved by employing GEF@PLGA NPs, which could also enhance drug cytotoxicity and impede the advancement of prostate cancer. Moreover, through experiments in vivo, it has been verified that GEF@PLGA NPs exhibit selective accumulation in the tumor and effectively restrain tumor growth. Therefore, the GEF@PLGA NPs hold great promise for the treatment of PCa.

Graphical abstract: Delivery of gefitinib loaded nanoparticles for effectively inhibiting prostate cancer progression

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 oct. 2023
Accepted
05 déc. 2023
First published
19 déc. 2023

Biomater. Sci., 2024,12, 650-659

Delivery of gefitinib loaded nanoparticles for effectively inhibiting prostate cancer progression

Z. Xiong, T. Tong, Z. Xie, S. Yu, R. Zhuang, Q. Jia, S. Peng, B. Li, J. Xie, K. Li, J. Wu and H. Huang, Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12, 650 DOI: 10.1039/D3BM01735D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements