Smart sarcosinate-based catanionic vesicles for efficient doxorubicin delivery in tumor microenvironments

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Machado, RL (Author) Other; Oliveira, IS (Author) Other; Santos, K (Author) Other; Gomes, AC (Author) Other; Eduardo F Marques (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Nanoscale

Vol. 17

ISSN: 2040-3364

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-01A-EJW

DOI: 10.1039/d5nr03663a

Abstract (EN): Catanionic mixtures, composed of cationic and anionic surfactants, spontaneously form robust self-assembled aggregates whose morphology, size, and surface charge can be tailored by adjusting the surfactant mixing ratio. This straightforward and scalable approach, based on easily obtainable components, offers a versatile and simple platform with high potential for drug delivery. However, developing viable nanocarriers also requires a favorable cytotoxicity profile, high drug loading, and strong bioactivity-features that catanionic vesicles often lack. Here, we present a systematic study of pH-sensitive catanionic vesicles composed of mixtures of the biocompatible, FDA-approved anionic surfactant sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (SLSar) and various cationic double-tailed surfactants (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide and bis-quat 12-s-12 gemini surfactants). The different vesicle systems form spontaneously at low critical aggregation concentrations (approximate to 3-30 mu mol kg-1), and exhibit a broad range of size distributions, high surface charge (positive and negative), and long-term colloidal stability. Cytotoxicity screening in healthy L929 fibroblasts enabled the selection of highly biocompatible compositions, with gemini/SLSar systems showing superior doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulation efficiency. These vesicles exhibit enhanced DOX release at acidic pH (approximate to 6.0), mimicking tumor microenvironments, and demonstrate rapid and efficient uptake in lung carcinoma cells within 30 min, increasing over 3 h. Remarkably, DOX-loaded vesicles achieve potent cytotoxicity at only 5 nM DOX-well below the IC50 of free drug-highlighting enhanced therapeutic efficacy and potential for reduced systemic toxicity. Overall, SLSar-based catanionic vesicles constitute a simple, stable, and tunable nanocarrier platform with significant potential for pH-responsive, low-dose cancer chemotherapy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14