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Afrifa MAO, Kim JH, Pitton KA, Olelewe C, Arojojoye AS, Strachan DR, Suckow MA, Awuah SG. Auranofin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Demonstrate Potency against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:2012-2022. [PMID: 38450675 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a clinical challenge due to molecular, metabolic, and genetic heterogeneity as well as the lack of validated drug targets. Thus, therapies or delivery paradigms are needed. Gold-derived compounds including the FDA-approved drug, auranofin have shown promise as effective anticancer agents against several tumors. To improve the solubility and bioavailability of auranofin, we hypothesized that the nanodelivery of auranofin using biodegradable chitosan modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) will enhance anticancer activity against TNBC by comparing the best nanoformulation with the free drug. The selection of the nanoformulation was based on synthesis of various chitosan PEG copolymers via formaldehyde-mediated engraftment of PEG onto chitosan to form [chitosan-g-PEG] copolymer. Furthermore, altered physiochemical properties of the copolymer was based on the formaldehyde ratio towards nanoparticles (CP 1-4 NPs). Following the recruitment of PEG onto the chitosan polymer surface, we explored how this process influenced the stiffness of the nanoparticle using atomic force microscopy (AFM), a factor crucial for in vitro and in vivo studies. Our objective was to ensure the full functionality and inherent properties of chitosan as the parent polymer was maintained without allowing PEG to overshadow chitosan's unique cationic properties while improving solubility in neutral pH. Hence, CP 2 NP was chosen. To demonstrate the efficacy of CP 2 NP as a good delivery carrier for auranofin, we administered a dose of 3 mg/kg of auranofin, in contrast to free auranofin, which was given at 5 mg/kg. In vivo studies revealed the potency of encapsulated auranofin against TNBC cells with a severe necrotic effect following treatment superior to that of free auranofin. In conclusion, chitosan-g-PEG nanoparticles have the potential to be an excellent delivery system for auranofin, increasing its effectiveness and potentially reducing its clinical limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maame Abena O Afrifa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jong H Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Kathryn A Pitton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Douglas R Strachan
- Department of Astronomy and Physics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Mark A Suckow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Markey NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Bioelectronics and Nanomedicine Research Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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Arojojoye AS, Walker B, Dawahare JC, Afrifa MAO, Parkin S, Awuah SG. Circumventing Physicochemical Barriers of Cyclometalated Gold(III) Dithiocarbamate Complexes with Protein-Based Nanoparticle Delivery to Enhance Anticancer Activity. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:43607-43620. [PMID: 37698293 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Optimizing the bioavailability of drug candidates is crucial to successful drug development campaigns, especially for metal-derived chemotherapeutic agents. Nanoparticle delivery strategies can be deployed to overcome physicochemical limitations associated with drugs to improve bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and minimize toxicity. Biodegradable albumin nanoconstructs offer pragmatic solutions for drug delivery of metallodrugs with translational benefits in the clinic. In this work, we explored a logical approach to investigate and resolve the physicochemical drawbacks of gold(III) complexes with albumin nanoparticle delivery to improve solubility, enhance intracellular accumulation, circumvent premature deactivation, and enhance anticancer activity. We synthesized and characterized stable gold(III) dithiocarbamate complexes with a variable degree of cyclometalation such as phenylpyridine (C^N) or biphenyl (C^C) Au(III) framework and different alkyl chain lengths. We noted that extended alkyl chain lengths impaired the solubility of these complexes in biological media, thus adversely impacting potency. Encapsulation of these complexes in bovine serum albumin (BSA) reversed solubility limitations and improved cancer cytotoxicity by ∼25-fold. Further speciation and mechanism of action studies demonstrate the stability of the compounds and alteration of mitochondria bioenergetics, respectively. We postulate that this nanodelivery strategy is a relevant approach for translational small-molecule gold drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Breyanna Walker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - James C Dawahare
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Maame Abena O Afrifa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sean Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40536, United States
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington Kentucky 40536, United States
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