In Vitro And In Vivo Therapeutic Evaluation Of Camptothecin-Encapsulated Beta-Cyclodextrin Nanosponges In Prostate Cancer

Camptothecin (CPT), a pentacyclic alkaloid, is an inhibitor of DNA Topoisomerase-I and shows a wide spectrum of anticancer activities. The use of CPT has been hampered by poor aqueous solubility and a high degradation rate. Previously, it has been reported that CPT encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin-nanosponges (CN-CPT) overcomes these disadvantages and improves the CPT's inhibitory effect on DU145 prostate tumor cell lines, and PC-3 growth in vitro. This work extends these observations by showing that CN-CPT significantly inhibits the adhesion and migration of these tumor cells and their STAT3 phosphorylation. The anti-adhesive effect is exerted also in human endothelial cells, in which CN-CPT also inhibits the angiogenic activity as assessed by the tubulogenesis and sprouting assays. Finally, CN-CPT substantially delays the growth of PC-3 cell engraftment in SLID mice in vivo without apparent toxic effects. These results support the use of beta-cyclodextrin nanosponge nanotechnology as a potential nanocarrier for delivery of anticancer drugs in the treatment of prostate cancers.