Introducing Nanochemoprevention as a Novel Approach for Cancer Control: Proof of Principle with Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate

TLDR

Chemoprevention using naturally occurring phytochemicals is a promising cancer management strategy, yet its human application has been limited by poor systemic delivery and bioavailability. The study introduces nanochemoprevention, employing nanotechnology to enhance chemopreventive outcomes. EGCG was encapsulated in polylactic acid‑polyethylene glycol nanoparticles, preserving its pro‑apoptotic and anti‑angiogenic activity with more than a ten‑fold dose advantage in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that nanoparticle delivery improves EGCG bioavailability and reduces toxicity, supporting its use in chemoprevention.

Abstract

Chemoprevention, especially through the use of naturally occurring phytochemicals capable of impeding the process of one or more steps of carcinogenesis process, is a promising approach for cancer management. Despite promising results in preclinical settings, its applicability to humans has met with limited success largely due to inefficient systemic delivery and bioavailability of promising chemopreventive agents. Here, we introduce the concept of nanochemoprevention, which uses nanotechnology for enhancing the outcome of chemoprevention. We encapsulated green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol nanoparticles and observed that encapsulated EGCG retains its biological effectiveness with over 10-fold dose advantage for exerting its proapoptotic and angiogenesis inhibitory effects, critically important determinants of chemopreventive effects of EGCG in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Thus, this study could serve as a basis for the use of nanoparticle-mediated delivery to enhance bioavailability and limit any unwanted toxicity of chemopreventive agents, such as EGCG.