Improved pharmacokinetics and enhanced tumor growth inhibition using a nanostructured lipid carrier loaded with doxorubicin and modified with a layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte coating

[Display omitted] A nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) has been shown to be cytotoxic against the human cancer cell lines A549 and MCF-7/Adr. In attempts to improve formulation characteristics, enhance pharmacokinetics and antitumor effects, we modified the surface of these NLC with an alternating layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polycation and polyanion polyelectrolytes and an additional coating with PEG using a simple method of core shell attachment. The formulation had a narrow size distribution, longer residence in the blood, lower accumulation in the liver, higher accumulation in tumors and a significant tumor growth inhibition effect. Thus, NLC–DOX nanopreparations complexes modified by LbL coating have the potential to enhance the anticancer effects of DOX against tumors.