Hydroxyethylcellulose as a methotrexate carrier in anticancer therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Drug carriers are essential in multifaceted cancer therapy, utilizing nano- and macromolecules like liposomes and proteins.
• Exploring novel, biocompatible materials for drug delivery is crucial for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of cellulose as a drug carrier for methotrexate (MTX).
• To synthesize and characterize a hydroxyethylcellulose-methotrexate conjugate for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a hydroxyethylcellulose-methotrexate conjugate via methyl ester bonds.
• Characterization using Gel Filtration HPLC and Dynamic Light Scattering.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assays and in vivo studies on orthotopically implanted mammary tumors.

Main Results:

• A conjugate with an average of 9.5 MTX molecules per cellulose molecule was created, with ~2% free drug.
• The conjugate exhibited first-order degradation kinetics in buffer and plasma, with a half-life of 154 hours in plasma.
• In vitro, the conjugate showed 10-fold lower cytotoxicity than free MTX, but in vivo, it achieved 48.4% maximum tumor growth inhibition compared to 11.2% for free MTX.

Conclusions:

• Cellulose can be effectively utilized as a drug carrier for methotrexate.
• The developed cellulose-MTX conjugate demonstrates promising results for in vivo cancer therapy, warranting further research.