Poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-butylene-co-succinate) nanoparticles as biodegradable carriers for camptothecin delivery

In this study, we show that degradable particles of a hydrophobic polymer can effectively deliver drugs to tumors after i.v. administration. Free-standing nanoparticles with diameters of 100–300 nm were successfully fabricated from highly hydrophobic, biodegradable poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-butylene-co-succinate) (PPBS) copolyesters. PPBS copolymers with various compositions (20–80 mol% PDL unit contents) were synthesized via copolymerization of ω-pentadecalactone (PDL), diethyl succinate (DES), and 1,4-butanediol (BD) using Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) as the catalyst. Camptothecin (CPT, 12–22%) was loaded into PPBS nanoparticles with high encapsulation efficiency (up to 96%) using a modified oil-in-water single emulsion technique. The CPT-loaded nanoparticles had a zeta potential of about −10 mV. PPBS particles were non-toxic in cell culture. Upon encapsulation, the active lactone form of CPT was remarkably stabilized and no lactone-to-carboxylate structural conversion was observed for CPT-loaded PPBS nanoparticles incubated in both phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH = 7.4) and DMEM medium for at least 24 h. In PBS at 37 °C, CPT-loaded PPBS nanoparticles showed a low burst CPT release (20–30%) within the first 24 h followed by a sustained, essentially complete, release of the remaining drug over the subsequent 40 days. Compared to free CPT, CPT-loaded PPBS nanoparticles showed a significant enhancement of cellular uptake, higher cytotoxicity against Lewis lung carcinoma and 9L cell lines in vitro, a longer circulation time, and substantially better antitumor efficacy in vivo. These results demonstrate the potential of PPBS nanoparticles as long-term stable and effective drug delivery systems in cancer therapy.