Nanocápsulas magnéticas de Selol para tratamento do câncer de mama experimental: avaliação in vitro e in vivo

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate a new nanostructured system for treatment of breast cancer, based on nanocapsules of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), which are biocompatibles, and entrapped both magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and Selol. MNP have many roles in cancer treatment, including the selective destruction of tumor cells by magnetohyperthermia; while Selol, a hydrophobic mixture containing selenium increases the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. The sample of magnetic nanocapsules of Selol (NCMagh-SE) was characterized, and their toxicity and antitumor effect were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays. The characterization by electron microscopy, zetasizer, and dynamic light scattering, showed NCMagh-SE with monodisperse feature and positive charge. In vitro toxicity of (NCMagh-SE) was evaluated in murine (4T1) and human (MCF-7) breast adenocarcinoma cells, plus in normal breast cell line (MCF-10A). Cytotoxicity, measured by MTT assay, was dose, time and cell line dependent. At doses of 25 μg/mL of Selol + 1.25x109 particles/mL and 50 μg/mL of Selol + 2.5x109 particles/mL, NCMagh-SE reduced the neoplastic cells viability by 38%, with no effect on normal cells. Analysis by light microscopy, showed higher uptake of NCMagh-SE by tumor cells. NCMagh-SE induced cell death by apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in analyzes performed by flow cytometry. Interestingly, NCMagh-SE was not cytotoxic to 4T1 cells after 4 hours of treatment with NCMagh-SE. However, exposure to the alternating magnetic field (AMF), subsequently to treatment with NCMagh-SE, decreased significantly the cell viability. Also, NCMagh-SE reduced the MCF-7 cells viability regardless of exposure to AMF, but the citotoxicity increased significantly after exposure to the AMF. Under the action of AMF and NCMagh-SE (100 μg/mL of Selol + 5x109 particles/mL), the cell viability was significantly reduced to 48.22%, whereas without AMF was 62.20%. In vivo studies in BALB/c mice, bearing orthotopic breast adenocarcinoma induced by 4T1 cells, showed no significant toxicity after treatment with NCMagh-SE in hematological, biochemical, histological and genotoxic analysis. Nonetheless, NCMagh-SE increased the tumor necrosis in mice. When this treatment was associated with intravenous administration of Paclitaxel, tumor necrosis was more evident. Exposure to AMF, after the combined intratumoral treatment of NCMagh-SE and Paclitaxel, increased the antitumor effect of the treatment, decreasing approximately 70% of the tumor volume in relation to control group treated with saline. Thus, the results show the potential of NCMagh-SE for breast cancer treatment, including their ability to enhance the chemotherapeutic effect of Paclitaxel and to induce magnetohyperthermia.