Osteosarcomas are the most commonly occurring malignant bone cancer in young individuals. The survival rate of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma is low and has been stagnant for over two decades. We previously demonstrated that the glutamate release inhibitor, riluzole inhibits osteosarcoma cell growth. Towards the development of more effective therapy, we investigated the delivery of riluzole in human metastatic osteosarcoma xenografts in mice. We compared the efficacy of riluzole delivery by intraperitoneally injecting either free riluzole or riluzole released via two different shapes of iron oxide nanoparticles (nanocage or nanosphere) of size 15±2.5 nm. We monitored tumor size using Vernier calipers and bioluminescence assay and found a significant reduction in tumor size in the riluzole‑treated groups when injected, either in free form or via nanoparticles, compared to the control groups (PBS, nanosphere or nanocage). Importantly, nanocage‑delivered riluzole was most effective in reducing tumor size in the xenograft nude mice. While riluzole delivery induced apoptosis in tumor tissues in all three groups of riluzole‑treated animals, it was highest in tumors from the nanocage‑delivered riluzole group. Therefore, we conclude that riluzole is an effective drug to reduce tumor size in osteosarcoma and the efficacy of riluzole as a apoptotic and tumor‑reducing drug is enhanced when delivered via nanocage.
Keywords: osteosarcoma; drug delivery; iron oxide nanoparticle; nanocage; cancer; in vivo; riluzole; xenograft.