Development of chitosan-SLN microparticles for chemotherapy: in vitro approach through efflux-transporter modulation.

Drug efflux-transporters serve as a major barrier to anticancer drugs at the target site. One strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs against cancer is to increase their available concentrations at the target site by suppressing or modulating efflux-transporters. This manuscript deals with the development and evaluation of the particle type drug delivery system made of stearic acid (Solid Lipid Nanoparticle - SLN) and chitosan for the delivery of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate (PEITC), a tumor-suppressive agent, through the pulmonary route. The rationale behind the particle type drug delivery system involves a prior release of the efflux-transporter inhibitors, such as tamoxifen, verapamil HCl or nifedipine, to suppress or modulate the efflux activity of ABC transporters followed by the release of the efflux-transporter substrate, PEITC. The efficacy of Chitosan-SLN Microparticles (CSM) as a carrier for PEITC was evaluated by investigating the release profiles of PEITC loaded in CSM and its cytotoxicity in the presence or absence of the efflux-transporter inhibitors. An initial burst release of the inhibitors, followed by gradual, sustained release of PEITC and subsequent increase in cytotoxicity was observed. This finding indicated that the efflux transporter inhibitors significantly affected the PEITC uptake rate by Calu-3 cells. Judging from these results, CSM can be an efficient drug delivery system for the substrates susceptible to the efflux-transporters.