Preparation, formula optimization and antitumor actions of mannitol coupling camptothecin nanoparticles

The purpose of this work is to prepare a formulation using mannitol coupling Camptothecin (CPT) nanoparticles (CPT-NPs) to circumvent the difficult solubilization practice based on central composite experimental statistical design. CPT-NPs were prepared with a high-pressure homogenization technique method. The independent variables considered for the optimization of CPT-NPs were percentage of CPT in raw material (CPT and mannitol), concentration of CPT in working liquid, cycles numbers and homogenizer pressure for drug loading efficiency, particle size and polydispersity index. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test was used to assess the optimization. The optimized CPT-NPs showed an appropriate drug loading efficiency (18.09 ± 2.13%), a homogeneous particle size (165.33 ± 37.23 nm) and a low polydispersity index (0.29 ± 0.01). The CPT-NPs group show higher inhibition ratio (79.95%) of H22 tumor growth in vivo compared with TPT and CPT at the same dose. Changes in mice body weight demonstrate CPT-NPs have the lower toxicity. The results of biodistribution studies indicated the obviously superiority of CPT-NPs in increasing the accumulation of CPT within tumor. Overall, CPT-NPs under optimum conditions are considered to be potentially feasible to overcome formulation challenges for drug delivery.