Nanosponge-encapsulated capmtothecin exerted antitumor effect on murine and human prostate cancer cells

Nanosponge-encapsulated camptothecin exerted antitumor effect on murine and human prostate cancer cells Rosalba Minelli, Chiara Dianzani, Roberto Pili, Roberto Fantozzi, Agnese Bisazza, Francesco Trotta, Roberta Cavalli Camptothecin is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid derived from the chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata Decne. Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivates are unique in their ability to inhibit DNA Topoisomerase, by stabilizing a covalent reaction intermediate termed the cleavable complex which ultimately causes tumor cell death. In clinical it is widely believed that camptothecin analogs exhibited remarkable anti-tumor and anti-leukemia activity. Application of camptothecin in clinic is limited due to serious side effects and high degradability and weak solubility. At present, some camptothecin analogs, either semi-synthetic or synthetic drug based on camptothecin, have been applied in cancerous therapy such as topotecan and irinotecan, while others have been obtained satisfying curative effects in clinic. In the present study a new formulation of CPT embedded in b-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges has been evaluated on prostate cancer models. Camptothecin-loaded nanosponges (CN-CPT) showed sizes lower than 500 nm, low polydispersity index and spherical shape.