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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Isolation of Murine Lymph Node Stromal Cells
Published on: August 19, 2014
A Novel Self-Assembly Nanocrystal as Lymph Node-Targeting Delivery System: Higher Activity of Lymph Node Targeting
Yuling Mao1, Jun Liu2, Tianyu Shi1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China.
Abstract:
Mitoxantrone (MTO) is used to treat certain types of cancer, mostly metastatic cancer. While the drug has poor aqueous solubility and high side effects. Self-assembly nanocrystal is a novel lymphatic targeting delivery system. In our study, MTO self-assembly nanocrystal (MTO NC) was successfully prepared to improve lymphatic targeting ability and reduce its toxicity. MTO NCs had small size, stable potential, and uniform distribution. The average particle size of MTO NCs was less than 100 nm with the 0.218 PDI and - 6.6 mV the Zeta potential value. TEM images showed that MTO NCs had a sphere-like morphology with smooth surface and uniform distribution; Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images gave a 3D surface of MTO NCs. Polarizing microscope micrograph (PLM) of MTO NCs in lymph nodes demonstrated the crystal structure of MTO NCs when it was exposed to physiological condition. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of MTO NCs in mice lymph nodes. Pharmacokinetic parameters of MTO strongly demonstrated that MTO NCs could target the lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection. Moreover, tissue distribution results indicated that MTO NCs were mainly absorbed by the lymphatics and reduced system toxicity. Finally, a lymphatic metastasis mice model was established to precede the pharmacodynamics of MTO NCs, and using MTO liposomes as a reference preparation, the inhibitory effect of MTO NCs on lymphatic metastasis was markedly higher. Briefly, MTO NCs, as a novel self-assembled lymphatic targeting system, can accumulate in the metastatic lymph nodes and lead anticancer drug to kill cancer cells and control lymphatic metastasis with extremely low systemic toxicity.
Insights
Novel self-assembling Mitoxantrone nanocrystals (MTO NCs) effectively target lymphatic systems. These MTO NCs reduce cancer treatment toxicity and inhibit metastasis in mice models.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Mitoxantrone (MTO) is an effective anticancer drug but suffers from poor solubility and significant side effects.
- Current delivery systems often fail to adequately target metastatic cancer sites, particularly in the lymphatic system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize Mitoxantrone self-assembly nanocrystals (MTO NCs) for enhanced lymphatic targeting.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of MTO NCs in preclinical models of cancer metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and characterization of MTO NCs using techniques like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).
- In vivo pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies in mice following subcutaneous injection.
- Evaluation of MTO NCs' efficacy in a lymphatic metastasis mouse model, comparing them to MTO liposomes.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized MTO NCs with small particle size (<100 nm), uniform distribution, and stable Zeta potential (-6.6 mV).
- Demonstrated significant accumulation of MTO NCs in lymph nodes, confirming lymphatic targeting.
- MTO NCs showed markedly higher inhibition of lymphatic metastasis compared to MTO liposomes with reduced systemic toxicity.
Conclusions:
- MTO NCs represent a promising self-assembled lymphatic targeting system for improving cancer therapy.
- This novel delivery system effectively targets metastatic lymph nodes, delivering the anticancer drug while minimizing systemic toxicity.
- MTO NCs offer a potential strategy for controlling cancer lymphatic metastasis.
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