188 Re-loaded lipid nanocapsules as a promising radiopharmaceutical carrier for internal radiotherapy of malignant gliomas

Purpose Lipid nanocapsules (LNC) entrapping lipophilic complexes of 188 Re ( 188 Re(S 3 CPh) 2 (S 2 CPh) [ 188 Re-SSS]) were investigated as a novel radiopharmaceutical carrier for internal radiation therapy of malignant gliomas. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of intra-cerebral administration of 188 Re-SSS LNC by means of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) on a 9L rat brain tumour model. Methods Female Fischer rats with 9L glioma were treated with a single injection of 188 Re-SSS LNC by CED 6days after cell implantation. Rats were put into random groups according to the dose infused: 12, 10, 8 and 3Gy in comparison with blank LNC, perrhenate solution (4Gy) and non-treated animals. The radionuclide brain retention level was evaluated by measuring 188 Re elimination in faeces and urine over 72h after the CED injection. The therapeutic effect of 188 Re-SSS LNC was assessed based on animal survival. Results CED of 188 Re perrhenate solution resulted in rapid drug clearance with a brain T 1/2 of 7h. In contrast, when administered in LNC, 188 Re tissue retention was greatly prolonged, with only 10% of the injected dose being eliminated at 72h. Rat median survival was significantly improved for the group treated with 8Gy 188 Re-SSS LNC compared to the control group and blank LNC-treated animals. The increase in the median survival time was about 80% compared to the control group; 33% of the animals were long-term survivors. The dose of 8Gy proved to be a very effective dose, between toxic (10–12Gy) and ineffective (3–4Gy) doses. Conclusions These findings show that CED of 188 Re-loaded LNC is a safe and potent anti-tumour system for treating malignant gliomas. Our data are the first to show the in vivo efficacy of 188 Re internal radiotherapy for the treatment of brain malignancy.