Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most classic chemotherapy drugs. Nanoparticle drug delivery vehicles offer superiority over target effect enhancement and abatement of side effects. Little is known however as to the specific effect of nanoparticle on peritoneal dissemination of colon cancer. The aim of this study is to prepare one NPs (nanoparticles) loaded with 5-FU and investigate the characteristic of NPs and the role of it in peritoneal metastasis nodules formation of human colon cancer.
Methodology/principal findings: Prepared the NPs (nanoparticles) loaded with 5-FU (5-Fluorouracil) by PEG-PLGA with the method of double emulsion. Then evaluate the characteristics of the NPs by scanning electron microscopy, analyzing the particle diameter distribution and determining the loading efficiency. Detect the release features of NPs in vitro and in vivo. Nude mice with peritoneal metastases were treated with 5-FU solution or 5-FU-NPs through peritoneal cavity. Count the nodules on peritoneum and mesenterium and survey the size of them. We got NPs with average-diameter of 310 nm. In vitro release test shows NPs can release equably for 5 days with release rate of 99.2%. In vivo, NPs group can keep higher plasma concentration of 5-FU longer than it in solution group. The number of peritoneal dissemination nodule below 1 mm in 5-FU-sol group(17.3 ± 3.5) and 5-FU-NP group(15.2 ± 3.2) is less than control group(27.2 ± 4.7)(P<0.05). The total number of nodules in 5-FU-NP group(28.7 ± 4.2) is significantly smaller than in 5-FU-sol group(37.7 ± 6.3) (P<0.05).
Conclusions/significance: The novel anti-tumor nanoparticles loaded with 5-FU by PEG-PLGA can release maintain 5 days and have inhibitory action to peritoneal dissemination of colon cancer in mice.