Sertaconazole-repurposed nanoplatform enhances lung cancer therapy via CD44-targeted drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Drug Repurposing
• Oncology

Background:

• Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Drug repurposing and nanodelivery systems offer promising avenues for enhanced anti-cancer therapies.
• Sertaconazole (STZ), an antifungal agent, exhibits anti-tumor potential but is limited by poor solubility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a drug-repurposed nanoplatform to improve sertaconazole's solubility and anti-lung cancer efficacy.
• To investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of the sertaconazole nanoplatform.
• To evaluate the in vivo anti-tumor activity and safety of the nanoplatform.

Main Methods:

• Nanoplatform preparation via thin film dispersion.
• In vitro drug release and cellular uptake studies.
• In vivo evaluation in a xenograft lung cancer mouse model.

Main Results:

• The nanoplatform successfully improved sertaconazole solubility and tumor cell accumulation.
• The nanoplatform induced anti-tumor effects through ROS-mediated apoptosis and pro-apoptotic autophagy.
• Significant tumor inhibition was observed in vivo with no apparent side effects.

Conclusions:

• A sertaconazole-based nanoplatform demonstrates a viable strategy for lung cancer treatment.
• This approach enhances drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes for lung cancer.
• Drug repurposing combined with nanotechnology offers a promising therapeutic avenue for lung cancer.