Antifibrotic Agent Mediated Tumor Microenvironment Modulation and Improved Nanomedicine Delivery in Solid Tumor

The unique physiology of tumors limits the efficacy of chemotherapeutics. In efforts to improve the effectiveness of the existing chemotherapy drugs, nanomedicine emerged as a new hope but proved inadequate due to the transport barriers present within the tumor tissues, which limits the potential of nanomedicine. Dense collagen networks in fibrotic tissues contribute to hindering the penetration of molecular- or nano-scale medicine through tumor interstitium. In the present study, human serum albumin (HSA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) were developed for gemcitabine (GEM) and losartan (LST), which could offer secreted protein acids rich in cysteine (SPARC) and enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR)-mediated drug accumulation in tumors. Also, the tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation approach using LST was coupled to investigate the impact on antitumor efficacy. GEM-HSA NPs and LST-HSA NPs were prepared by the desolvation-cross-linking method and characterized for size, potential, morphology, drug loading, drug–polymer interactions, and hemocompatibility. For investigating the efficacy of prepared NPs, cytotoxicity and mechanisms of cell death were elucidated in vitro by using various assays. Intracellular uptake studies of prepared HSA NPs indicated their uptake and cytoplasmic localization. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated significantly improved anticancer efficacy of GEM-HSA NPs in combination with LST pretreatment. Extended LST treatment further improved the anticancer potential. It was shown that the improved efficacy of the nanomedicine was correlated with the reduced thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and collagen level in tumor tissue upon LST pretreatment. Moreover, this approach exhibited augmented nanomedicine accumulation in the tumor, and hematological, biochemical, and tissue histology indicated the safety profile of this combination regimen. Concisely, the undertaken study demonstrated the potential of the triple targeting (SPARC, EPR, TME modulation) approach for augmented efficacy of chemotherapeutics.