Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach

<b>Background:</b> The rapid rise in cancer incidence significantly augments efforts to improve cancer treatments. A multimodal approach in the nanobrachytherapy of solid tumors is one of the promising methods under investigation. This study presents a novel biocompatible lignin-based na...

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Main Authors: Aleksandar Vukadinović, Miloš Ognjanović, Milica Mijović, Bryce Warren, Slavica Erić, Željko Prijović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/177
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author Aleksandar Vukadinović
Miloš Ognjanović
Milica Mijović
Bryce Warren
Slavica Erić
Željko Prijović
author_facet Aleksandar Vukadinović
Miloš Ognjanović
Milica Mijović
Bryce Warren
Slavica Erić
Željko Prijović
author_sort Aleksandar Vukadinović
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> The rapid rise in cancer incidence significantly augments efforts to improve cancer treatments. A multimodal approach in the nanobrachytherapy of solid tumors is one of the promising methods under investigation. This study presents a novel biocompatible lignin-based nanomaterial, loaded with cytostatic agent SN-38 and radionuclide <sup>131</sup>I, for simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy of solid tumors by a nanobrachytherapy approach. <b>Method:</b> Nanoparticles of ~100 nm in size, composed of lignin alone or loaded with 10% (m/m) of SN-38 (SN-38@lignin), were synthesized using a bottom-up approach and characterized. Subsequent radiolabeling of the nanoparticles by <sup>131</sup>I produced <sup>131</sup>I-lignin and <sup>131</sup>I-SN-38@lignin. Their antitumor efficiency was tested against luciferase-expressing 4T1 mouse breast cancer xenografts of ~100 mm<sup>3</sup> size on Balb/c mice. <b>Results:</b> An intratumoral injection of 1.85 MBq of <sup>131</sup>I-lignin was retained within the tumor and achieved a moderate twofold decrease in tumor size compared to the control group. Injecting SN-38@lignin containing 25 µg of SN-38 decreased tumor size 3.5-fold. The therapy using the same doses of <sup>131</sup>I-SN-38@lignin produced the most potent antitumor effect, with tumors being 6-fold smaller and having extensive intratumoral necrosis, all of it without signs of systemic toxicity. <b>Conclusions:</b> These results support the intratumoral delivery of lignin-based nanomaterial carrying radioisotopes and camptothecins for effective multimodal anticancer therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-5e2e75a60a4645949052fd0e5bda5b972025-08-20T03:11:22ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-01-0118217710.3390/ph18020177Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy ApproachAleksandar Vukadinović0Miloš Ognjanović1Milica Mijović2Bryce Warren3Slavica Erić4Željko Prijović5“Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia“Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University in Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, SerbiaNatural State Science LLC, 415 N. McKinley Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USAFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia“Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia<b>Background:</b> The rapid rise in cancer incidence significantly augments efforts to improve cancer treatments. A multimodal approach in the nanobrachytherapy of solid tumors is one of the promising methods under investigation. This study presents a novel biocompatible lignin-based nanomaterial, loaded with cytostatic agent SN-38 and radionuclide <sup>131</sup>I, for simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy of solid tumors by a nanobrachytherapy approach. <b>Method:</b> Nanoparticles of ~100 nm in size, composed of lignin alone or loaded with 10% (m/m) of SN-38 (SN-38@lignin), were synthesized using a bottom-up approach and characterized. Subsequent radiolabeling of the nanoparticles by <sup>131</sup>I produced <sup>131</sup>I-lignin and <sup>131</sup>I-SN-38@lignin. Their antitumor efficiency was tested against luciferase-expressing 4T1 mouse breast cancer xenografts of ~100 mm<sup>3</sup> size on Balb/c mice. <b>Results:</b> An intratumoral injection of 1.85 MBq of <sup>131</sup>I-lignin was retained within the tumor and achieved a moderate twofold decrease in tumor size compared to the control group. Injecting SN-38@lignin containing 25 µg of SN-38 decreased tumor size 3.5-fold. The therapy using the same doses of <sup>131</sup>I-SN-38@lignin produced the most potent antitumor effect, with tumors being 6-fold smaller and having extensive intratumoral necrosis, all of it without signs of systemic toxicity. <b>Conclusions:</b> These results support the intratumoral delivery of lignin-based nanomaterial carrying radioisotopes and camptothecins for effective multimodal anticancer therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/177cancer<sup>131</sup>IradioisotopeSN-38nanobrachytherapy
spellingShingle Aleksandar Vukadinović
Miloš Ognjanović
Milica Mijović
Bryce Warren
Slavica Erić
Željko Prijović
Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
Pharmaceuticals
cancer
<sup>131</sup>I
radioisotope
SN-38
nanobrachytherapy
title Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
title_full Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
title_fullStr Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
title_full_unstemmed Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
title_short Lignin-Based Nanocarrier for Simultaneous Delivery of <sup>131</sup>I and SN-38 in the Combined Treatment of Solid Tumors by a Nanobrachytherapy Approach
title_sort lignin based nanocarrier for simultaneous delivery of sup 131 sup i and sn 38 in the combined treatment of solid tumors by a nanobrachytherapy approach
topic cancer
<sup>131</sup>I
radioisotope
SN-38
nanobrachytherapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/177
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