Drug Delivery with Carbon Nanotubes for <i>In vivo</i> Cancer Treatment

TLDR

Functionalized single‑walled carbon nanotubes accumulate in tumors in mice while remaining biocompatible, excreted, and minimally toxic. The study demonstrates in vivo SWNT drug delivery for tumor suppression in mice. Paclitaxel was conjugated to branched PEG on SWNTs via a cleavable ester bond, yielding a water‑soluble SWNT‑PTX conjugate. SWNT‑PTX achieved higher tumor‑growth suppression than clinical Taxol in a murine 4T1 breast cancer model, with prolonged circulation, 10‑fold higher tumor PTX uptake, and biliary release/excretion without obvious toxicity, indicating promising efficacy and minimal side effects at low drug doses. Cancer Research 2008;68(16):6652–60.

Abstract

Abstract Chemically functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have shown promise in tumor-targeted accumulation in mice and exhibit biocompatibility, excretion, and little toxicity. Here, we show in vivo SWNT drug delivery for tumor suppression in mice. We conjugate paclitaxel (PTX), a widely used cancer chemotherapy drug, to branched polyethylene glycol chains on SWNTs via a cleavable ester bond to obtain a water-soluble SWNT-PTX conjugate. SWNT-PTX affords higher efficacy in suppressing tumor growth than clinical Taxol in a murine 4T1 breast cancer model, owing to prolonged blood circulation and 10-fold higher tumor PTX uptake by SWNT delivery likely through enhanced permeability and retention. Drug molecules carried into the reticuloendothelial system are released from SWNTs and excreted via biliary pathway without causing obvious toxic effects to normal organs. Thus, nanotube drug delivery is promising for high treatment efficacy and minimum side effects for future cancer therapy with low drug doses. [Cancer Res 2008;68(16):6652–60]