Radiolabeled PLGA Nanoparticles for Effective Targeting of Bendamustine in Tumor Bearing Mice

Bendamustine is an important drug for the treatment of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, its delivery is challenging due to its instability. Current approach reports the development and characterization of bendamustine encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles for the effective targeting to leukemic cells.

The prepared, bendamustine loaded PLGA nanoparticles (BLPNP) were developed and characterized for particle size, zeta potential and polydispersity index. The formed nanoparticles were further characterized with the help of electron microscopy for surface morphology. The formed nanoparticles were evaluated for cytotoxicity, cell uptake, ROS and cell apoptosis against THP-1 leukemic cells as a part of in vitro evaluation. In vivo organ bio-distribution and tumor regression studies were performed to track in vivo behaviour of BLPNP.

The average particle size was 138.52 ± 3.25 nm, with 0.192 ± 0.036 PDI and - 25.4 ± 1.38 mV zeta potential. TEM images revealed the homogeneous particle size distribution with uniform shape. In vitro release exhibited a sustained drug-release behaviour up to 24 h. Cytotoxicity against THP-1 cells through MTT assay observed IC₅₀ value of 27.8 ± 2.1 μM for BLPNP compared to pure drug, which was 50.42 ± 3.4 μM. Moreover, in vitro studies like cell-uptake and cell apoptosis studies further confirmed the higher accumulation of BLPNP in comparison to the pure drug. Organ distribution and tumor regression studies were performed to track in vivo behaviour of bendamustine loaded nanoparticles.

The overall study described a promising approach in terms of safety, least erythrocytic toxicity, better IC₅₀ value with enhance tumor targeting and regression.