Comparison of Delivery Systems for Chemotherapy Preparation Doxorubicin using Electron Microscopic and Hydrodynamic Methods

Structural and functional characteristics of various systems for delivery of antitumor preparation doxorubicin were compared. Two types of delivery systems were studied: submicron porous calcium carbonate cores coated with a polyanion (sodium dextran sulfate) and nanoparticles based on random amphiphilic copolymers of different amino acids. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering were used to determine sizes of both delivery systems and electrokinetic potentials of their surfaces. Toxicity of delivery systems containing from 0 to 5 µg/mL of doxorubicin against MCF7 tumor cells was determined from the results of measurements of electric impedance of microsensors in the unit containing the cells and the tested delivery systems. Time-concentration profiles of doxorubicin in rat blood plasma after intraperitoneal administration of the tested delivery systems were obtained by high performance liquid chromatography. These profiles indicate considerable differences in the processes of penetration of carriers of various sizes into bloodstream.