Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Encapsulation of Cancer Therapeutic Agent Dacarbazine Using Nanostructured Lipid Carrier
Published on: April 26, 2016
Activate the endogenous Cu2+ switch for Zn(DDC)2 liposomes conversion: Providing a safer and less toxic alternative
Xinxin Liang1, Chunxue Li2, Wei Yuan1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China.
Abstract:
The ancient anti-alcohol drug disulfiram (DSF) has gained widespread attention for its highly effective anti-tumor effects in cancer treatment. Our previous studies have developed liposome of Cu (DDC)2 to overcome the limitations, like the poor water solubility. However, Cu (DDC)2 liposomes still have shown difficulties in severe hemolytic reactions at high doses and systemic toxicity, which have limited their clinical use. Therefore, this study aims to exploratively investigate the feasibility of using DSF or DDC in combination also can chelate Zn2+ to form zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (Zn (DDC)2). Furthermore, this study prepared stable and homogeneous Zn (DDC)2 liposomes, which were able to be released in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The released Zn (DDC)2 was converted to Cu (DDC)2 with the help of endogenous Cu2+-switch enriched in the TME, which has a higher stability constant compared with Zn (DDC)2. In other words, the Cu2+-switch is activated at the tumor site, completing the conversion of the less cytotoxic Zn (DDC)2 to the more cytotoxic Cu (DDC)2 for effective tumor therapy so that the Zn (DDC)2 liposomes in vivo achieved the comparable therapeutic efficacy and provided a safer alternative to Cu (DDC)2 liposomes in cancer therapy.
More Related Videos
07:47Custom-designed Laser-based Heating Apparatus for Triggered Release of Cisplatin from Thermosensitive Liposomes with Magnetic Resonance Image Guidance
Published on: December 13, 2015
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019