Enhanced in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of codrug-loaded nanoparticles against liver cancer

Figures & data

Table 1 Mean particle size of five kinds of nanoparticles

Feeding ratio Ptx:Tet	Mean particle size (nm)a	Zeta potential (mV)a	Polydispersity
1:3	83.1 ± 5.7	−6.5 ± 1.2	0.16 ± 0.09
1:2	88.3 ± 8.4	−5.7 ± 2.1	0.17 ± 0.08
1:1	77.2 ± 1.9	−6.6 ± 2.1	0.14 ± 0.09
2:1	79.6 ± 4.6	−6.1 ± 0.7	0.15 ± 0.08
3:1	90.3 ± 7.3	−5.3 ± 0.9	0.17 ± 0.07

Note:

a The standard deviation value was obtained from three measurements of a single batch.

Abbreviations: PTX, paclitaxel; Tet, tetrandrine.

Figure 1 (A) Drug loading content and (B) encapsulation efficiency of paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles with different feeding ratios.

Abbreviations: DLC, drug loading content; EE, encapsulation efficiency; Ptx, paclitaxel; Tet, tetrandrine.

Figure 2 In vitro cytotoxicity of (A) blank nanoparticles and (B) free paclitaxel, paclitaxel plus tetrandrine, and paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles against H22 cells for 48 hours.

Note: Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

Abbreviations: Ptx, free paclitaxel; Ptx-Tet, paclitaxel plus tetrandrine; Ptx-Tet np, paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles.

Figure 3 Changes in (A) tumor volume, (B) relative tumor volume, (C) therapeutic group/control group%, and (D) body weight of H22-transplanted imprinting control region mice receiving different therapy treatments. The mice were treated with different protocols on day zero (arrow), ie, when tumor volume measured 100 mm³.

Notes: Data in (A) and (D) are presented as mean ± standard deviation; *P < 0.05 versus the group receiving 10 mg/kg paclitaxel nanoparticles; **P < 0.05 versus the group receiving 5 mg/kg paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles.

Abbreviations: empty np, empty nanoparticles; P-np 10, paclitaxel nanoparticles in a saline solution at equivalent paclitaxel dose of 10 mg/kg; P/T np, paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles in a saline solution at equivalent paclitaxel dose of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg with tetrandrine dose set at 10 mg/kg; Ptx 10, free paclitaxel at a dose of 10 mg/kg; saline, vehicle; T/C, therapeutic group/control group.

Figure 4 Kaplan–Meier curves showing the survival of tumor-bearing mice treated with different protocols.

Note: The different agents were delivered intratumorally when tumor volume measured 100 mm³.

Abbreviations: cum, cumulative; empty np, empty nanoparticles; P-np 10, paclitaxel nanoparticles in a saline solution at equivalent paclitaxel dose of 10 mg/kg; P/T np, paclitaxel/tetrandrine nanoparticles in a saline solution at equivalent paclitaxel dose of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg with tetrandrine dose set at 10 mg/kg; Ptx 10, free paclitaxel at a dose of 10 mg/kg; saline, vehicle.