Development of sustained delivery system as a novel technique for tissue culture

One of the greatest advances for biomedical research has been the use of tissue culture to study the effects and the mode of action of various organic compounds. However, there are myriad problems associated with the classical approach to pharmaceutical studies in tissue culture, such as contamination, the logistical problems inherent in intermittent dosing, and near-lethal drug doses required to achieve effective physiological doses. This has given impetus to a search for better means of effective delivery routes in a tissue culture setting. The specific objectives of this investigation were: (1) to develop a ceramic delivery system for the novel purpose of releasing sustained levels of the anti-cancer drug combination inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) + inositol (I) in a tissue culture setting; (2) to assess the proliferation rate and viability of HTB 122 Intraductile Breast Cancer (IBC) cells exposed to sustained levels of IP6 + I compared to conventional means of drug delivery (dissolved in media); (3) to evaluate the morphological changes associated with this treatment process. Sterile aseptic techniques were employed during the entire study (72 hours of incubation). Data obtained from this investigation suggests the following: (1) TCPL delivery system can be utilized in the tissue culture setting to deliver IP6 + I in a sustained manner for 72 hours; (2) the use of IP6 + I at the physiological dose did not induce any significant change in the biochemical marker (MDA); (3) morphological evaluation of cells treated with sustained delivery resulted in cellular atrophy, as well as fragmentation, compared to the treatment by conventional means and to the sham group (empty capsule); and (4) regardless of route of administration, treatment with IP6 + I resulted in a decrease in total protein content compared to the sham capsules and control groups. In conclusion, this approach is a novel use of ceramic delivery systems in tissue culture that gives breakthrough information for basic research on limiting and eliminating contamination and the logistical problems associated with intermittent dosing in tissue culture.