Selenium-doped calcium carbonate nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin enhance efficiency and reduce side effects.

Osteosarcoma is the bone tumor that most commonly affects children and teenagers with low survival rate because of metastatic relapse or recurrence. Cisplatin is a first-line chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. However, severe side effects limit its use in clinic. Selenium (Se) is an anticarcinogen that can protect normal tissues from side effects of chemotherapy. In this study, nanoparticles were used to co-deliver cisplatin and Se in a synergistic combination. Se-doped and lipid-coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin (Pt/Se@CaCO3 NPs) were prepared by a reverse microemulsion method. The NPs delivered cisplatin and Se to tumour cells at an optimal synergistic ratio of 1:1 (mol/mol) both in vitro and in an osteosarcoma xenograft model. These results demonstrate that Pt/Se@CaCO3 NPs have great prospects for the osteosarcoma therapy.