Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles: increased efficiency in murine hepatic metastases

Free doxorubicin and doxorubicin associated with polyisohexlycyanoacrylate were tested for their therapeutic efficiency in hepatic metastasis-bearing mice. The metastases originated from the M 5076 reticulum cell sarcoma. Irrespective of the dose and the administration schedule, the reduction of the number of metastases was much larger with the doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles than with free doxorubicin. This was clearly confirmed by histological examination. Although pharmacological and pharmacokinetic data indicated a strong capture of the nanoparticles by the hepatic issue, the mechanism of nanoparticle therapeutic efficiency remains unclear.