Triptolide-loaded nanoparticles targeting breast cancer in vivo with reduced toxicity

Publication date: Available online 15 October 2019Source: International Journal of PharmaceuticsAuthor(s): Wei Zheng, Cong Wang, Ruihong Ding, Yahong Huang, Yanyi Li, Yan LuAbstractTriptolide (TP), a diterpenoid triepoxide that is extracted from the plant Tripterygium wilfordii, has been found to be quite effective for treating many malignant tumors. Although TP was initially considered to be a promising chemotherapeutic agent, its poor solubility and high toxicity limited its potential clinical application. Consequently, we synthesized nanoformulated TP coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) for application in treating breast cancer. Our results showed that TP can prevent tumor progression, but at the cost of significant toxicity. By contrast, using the nanoformulated TP, uptake of drugs into the tumor can be facilitated, which leads to a further increase in efficacy while decreasing systemic toxicity.Graphical abstract
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research