Nano-sized drug carrier for cancer therapy: Dose-toxicity relationship of PEG-PCL-PEG polymeric micelle on ICR mice

Abstract

Amphiphilic polymeric nanoparticles garnered attention in pharmaceutical and medical fields because of its benefits of the sustained release, the extended circulation, the uptake by reticuloendothelial system in human body when used as the carrier of anti-cancer drugs. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility of biodegradable triblock copolymer (PEG-PCL-PEG) used as the carrier of anti-cancer drugs. The synthesized PEG-PCL-PEG was synthesized and formed nano-sized micellar nanoparticles spontaneously in aqueous solution. The particle size was in the range of 40.2-85.3 nm. In-vitro hemolysis test indicated that 2.0 mg/mL micelle without drug loading caused no damage to red blood cells. In-vivo study on ICR mice displayed minor pathological response in liver and kidney of tested mice administrated intravenously 71.43 mg/kg nanoparticles. When the dose of nanoparticles increased to 91.95 mg/kg, both renal and liver toxicity was observed. This finding brings us further design of in-vivo study for loading anti-cancer drug, such as doxorubicin in the PEG-PCL-PEG carrier within a safe administration dose. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.