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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
Generation of 3D Tumor Spheroids for Drug Evaluation Studies
Published on: February 24, 2023
Investigation of Anti-Cancer Properties of Nano-Encapsulated Ciprofloxacin Using 3D Cancer Cell Spheroids as Tumour
Yasmin Kabalan1, Karolina Matulewicz2, Bartosz Tylkowski1,3,4
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
Abstract:
Bladder cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies to enhance treatment efficacy. This study investigates the potential of chitosan nanoparticles as a drug delivery system, using ciprofloxacin as a model compound and utilizing a 3D spheroid model of bladder cancer that better reflects in vivo tumour conditions. The encapsulation efficiency of ciprofloxacin was optimized on the appropriate mass ratio of chitosan to cross-linking tripolyphosphate (TPP) polyanion. The resulting spherical chitosan nanocapsules loaded with ciprofloxacin demonstrated improved stability and controlled drug release, addressing the limitations of non-encapsulated ciprofloxacin. In 3D T24 bladder cancer spheroids, encapsulated ciprofloxacin exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity compared to free-drug formulations, with significant effects observed at ciprofloxacin concentrations of 500 and 1000 μM after 48 and 72 h of exposure. The 3D spheroid model, which better mimics the tumour microenvironment than 2D cultures, enabled a more accurate drug efficacy evaluation. The results demonstrate that chitosan nanocapsules can improve the delivery and cytotoxic profile of ciprofloxacin in vitro, indicating their potential for further development as carriers in localized bladder cancer treatment.
Insights
Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with ciprofloxacin show improved bladder cancer cell killing. This novel drug delivery system offers potential for more effective localized bladder cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Bladder cancer presents a significant global health burden, driving the need for advanced therapeutic approaches.
- Current treatments face challenges in efficacy and targeted delivery.
- Novel drug delivery systems are crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate chitosan nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle for ciprofloxacin in bladder cancer.
- To optimize the formulation of ciprofloxacin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles.
- To assess the efficacy of encapsulated ciprofloxacin using a 3D bladder cancer spheroid model.
Main Methods:
- Chitosan nanoparticles were formulated with ciprofloxacin using varying chitosan to tripolyphosphate (TPP) ratios.
- Encapsulation efficiency, stability, and drug release kinetics were characterized.
- Cytotoxicity of encapsulated versus free ciprofloxacin was evaluated in 3D T24 bladder cancer spheroids.
Main Results:
- Optimized chitosan-TPP mass ratio yielded spherical nanocapsules with improved stability and controlled ciprofloxacin release.
- Encapsulated ciprofloxacin demonstrated significantly enhanced cytotoxicity in 3D bladder cancer spheroids compared to the free drug.
- The 3D spheroid model provided a more relevant assessment of drug efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan nanoparticles effectively encapsulate ciprofloxacin, enhancing its stability and release profile.
- The developed nanocarrier system improves the cytotoxic activity of ciprofloxacin against bladder cancer spheroids.
- Chitosan nanocapsules hold promise as a drug delivery platform for localized bladder cancer therapy.
