In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Alectinib-Loaded Dendrimer Nanoparticles as a Drug Delivery System for Non-Small

Mahmood R Atta1, Israa Al-Ani1, Ibrahim Aldeeb2

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC), Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman 19328, Jordan.

Pharmaceutics
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Formulating Alectinib with G4-NH2-PAMAM dendrimers significantly enhances its oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. This dendrimer complex improves drug absorption, circulation, and tumor suppression, offering a promising new strategy for NSCLC therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Alectinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has poor oral bioavailability due to low solubility and dissolution.
  • Developing strategies to improve Alectinib's pharmacokinetic profile is crucial for enhancing its therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To enhance the solubility and therapeutic efficacy of Alectinib by formulating a G4-NH2-PAMAM dendrimer complex.
  • To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo performance of the Alectinib-dendrimer formulation for NSCLC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of the Alectinib-G4-NH2-PAMAM dendrimer complex using organic solvent evaporation.
  • Characterization via DSC, FTIR, DLS, and zeta potential; quantification by HPLC.
  • In vitro drug release, cytotoxicity assays (MTT, clonogenic, scratch-wound), in vivo xenograft studies, and pharmacokinetic evaluation in rats (LC-MS/MS).

Main Results:

  • Encapsulation efficiency of 59 ± 5%; sustained in vitro drug release at pH 6.8.
  • Comparable in vitro anticancer efficacy with 98% migration inhibition; near-complete tumor regression (~100%) in vivo.
  • Improved pharmacokinetics: enhanced absorption, prolonged circulation, and increased bioavailability (AUC) compared to free Alectinib.

Conclusions:

  • G4-NH2-PAMAM dendrimer formulation significantly enhances Alectinib's pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic potential.
  • This dendrimer-based approach represents a promising strategy for improving the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

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