Polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles as a carrier for mitomycin C in rabbits bearing VX2-liver tumor

Polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (PBCA-NP) were prepared by addition of the monomer to an aqueous phase containing dextran 70 and loaded with mitomycin C (MMC-PBCA-NP), a highly effective anticancer drug. When injected into mice, MMC-PBCA-NP accumulated more in the liver than did free MMC. In contrast, MMC-PBCA-NP accumulated less in the heart and kidney than did free MMC. However, when MMC-PBCA-NP and MMC were administered to rabbits bearing VX2 cells implanted into the liver, the antiproliferative effects on the tumor cells of both drugs were similar. Histological analyses indicated that organization of myocardial filaments was disrupted and vacuolization was observed in the MMC treated group, whereas MMC-PBCA-NP treatment did not appear to damage the host’s heart. Hydropic degeneration of renal tubular epithelia was observed in the MMC treated group and not in the control group, whereas MMC-PBCA-NP treatment did not appear to damage the host’s kidney.