Breakthrough in Colon Cancer Treatment: Nanotechnology-Driven Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Shows Promising Results

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of colon cancer treatment. The team, led by Padakanti Sandeep Chary, has developed a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) that can effectively prevent the efflux of the cancer medication irinotecan, increasing its oral bioavailability and reducing its side effects. This innovative approach uses a combination of irinotecan and cyclosporine, a substance that inhibits the efflux pump activity of intestinal P-glycoprotein receptors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team designed and fabricated a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (CO-IR-CP-SNs) that can effectively prevent P-gp efflux and P450 enzyme metabolization, increasing oral bioavailability.
  • The CO-IR-CP-SNs were fabricated using a Box-Behnken design tool with Capryol 90, Cremophor EL, and PEG-400 as the oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant, respectively.
  • The optimized CO-IR-CP-SNs had an average globule size of 16.36 ± 1.09 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.250 ± 0.01.
  • The combination index value supports the existence of synergy in human colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116), with a value of 0.78.
  • The research concluded that the CO-IR-CP-SNs show promising results and improved oral bioavailability, which is beneficial in anticancer therapy with minimal side effects associated with the drug.

Statistics:

  • Average globule size of CO-IR-CP-SNs: 16.36 ± 1.09 nm
  • Polydispersity index of CO-IR-CP-SNs: 0.250 ± 0.01
  • Combination index value: 0.78
  • Number of research authors: 8 (Padakanti Sandeep Chary, Rati Yadav, Harshada Bhalerao, Vaibhavi Srivastava, Ekta Pardhi, Avinash Pawar, Rajesh Sonti, and Neelesh Kumar Mehra)
  • Number of research institutions involved: 1 (National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, NIPER)

Sources:

  • NewsRx. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Reports Findings in Colon Cancer (Nanotechnology-Driven Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Coencapsulation of Irinotecan and Cyclosporine A in SNEDDS for Superior Outcomes). Nanotechnology Weekly. June 30, 2025; p 613.