Calcium carbonate microspheres as carriers for the anticancer drug camptothecin

Qiu, N. et al. (2012) Calcium carbonate microspheres as carriers for the anticancer drug camptothecin. Materials Science and Engineering C: Biomimetic and Supramolecular Systems, 32(8), pp. 2634-2640. (doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2012.08.026)

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Abstract

Biogenic calcium carbonate has come to the attention of many researchers as a promising drug delivery system due to its safety, pH sensitivity and the large volume of information already in existence on its medical use. In this study, we employed bovine serum albumin (BSA) as an additive to synthesize a series of porous calcium carbonate microspheres (CCMS). These spheres, identified as vaterite, are stable both in aqueous solutions and organic solvents. Camptothecin, an effective anticancer agent, was loaded into the CCMS by simple diffusion and adsorption. The camptothecin loaded CCMS showed sustained cell growth inhibitory activity and a pH dependent release of camptothecin. With a few hours, the release is negligible under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4) but almost complete at pH 4 to 6 (i.e. pHs found in lysosomes and solid tumor tissue respectively). These findings suggest that porous, biogenic calcium carbonate microspheres could be promising carriers for the safe and efficient delivery of anticancer drugs of low aqueous solubility.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Yin, Professor Huabing and Glidle, Dr Andrew
Authors: Qiu, N., Yin, H., Ji, B., Klauke, N., Glidle, A., Zhang, Y., Song, H., Cai, L., Ma, L., Wang, G., Chen, L., and Wang, W.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
Journal Name:Materials Science and Engineering C: Biomimetic and Supramolecular Systems
Publisher:Elsevier B.V.
ISSN:0928-4931
ISSN (Online):1873-0191
Published Online:19 August 2012

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