Dendrimer-encapsulated camptothecins: increased solubility, cellular uptake, and cellular retention affords enhanced anticancer activity in vitro.

A biocompatible polyester dendrimer composed of the natural metabolites, glycerol and succinic acid, is described for the encapsulation of the antitumor camptothecins, 10-hydroxycamptothecin and 7-butyl-10-aminocamptothecin. The cytotoxicity of the dendrimer-drug complex toward four different human cancer cell lines [human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), non-small cell lung carcinoma (NCI-H460), and glioblastoma (SF-268)] is also reported, and low nmol/L IC(50) values are measured. Cellular uptake and efflux measurements in MCF-7 cells show an increase of 16-fold for cellular uptake and an increase in drug retention within the cell when using the dendrimer vehicle.