Antitumor effects of polysorbate-80 coated gemcitabine polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles in vitro and its pharmacodynamics in vivo on C6 glioma cells of a brain tumor model

Polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles coated with polysorbate-80 have been extensively studied for delivery of drugs into the animal models; however, 1% polysorbate-80 coated gemcitabine PBCA nanoparticles (GCTB-PBCA-NPs) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of brain targeted 1% polysorbate-80 coated GCTB-PBCA-NPs on C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. GCTB-PBCA-NPs were prepared by emulsion polymerization and freeze drying. C6 glioma cells treated with 1% polysorbate-80 coated GCTB-PBCA-NPs showed poor growth with less cell density and increased detachment. Cell morphology was also greatly altered with nuclear vacuoles, ruptured cells and dead cells. Meanwhile, by flow cytometry, the numbers of cells treated with 1% polysorbate-80 coated GCTB-PBCA-NPs showed increase in G0/G1 phase and decreased in the S phase (P < 0.01) compared with the blank control. CCK-8 assay also showed that GCTB could significantly inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration dependent manner. Finally, various preparations were injected (90 mg preparation per kg body weight) into the brain tumor model, which was produced after inoculating C6 glioma cells into Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for 14 days, it was shown that 1% polysorbate-80 coated GCTB-PBCA-NPs could significantly extend the survival time compared with the saline control (P < 0.05). Taken together, 1% polysorbate-80 coated GCTB-PBCA-NPs can effectively inhibit the growth of C6 glioma cells in vitro and enhance antitumor activity on brain tumor in vivo.