Doxorubicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer therapy.

In the present study we developed doxorubicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-Dox) using biocompatible compounds, assessed the in vitro hemolytic effect, and examined their in vivo effects on drug retention and apoptosis intensity in P-glycoprotein-overexpressing MCF-7/ADR cells, a representative Dox-resistant breast cancer cell line. Our SLNs did not show hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. In comparison with Dox, SLN-Dox efficiently enhanced apoptotic cell death through the higher accumulation of Dox in MCF-7/ADR cells. Therefore, SLN-Dox have potential to serve as a useful therapeutic approach to overcome the chemoresistance of adriamycin-resistant breast cancer. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: Doxorubicin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-Dox) were studied in a cell line representative of doxorubicin resistant breast cancer. The nanoparticles did not show hemolytic activity; furthermore, they efficiently enhanced apoptotic cell death through higher accumulation of doxorubicin in cancer cells. This approach may be viable in overcoming the chemoresistance of adriamycin resistant breast cancer. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.