Inhalable self-assembled albumin nanoparticles for treating drug-resistant lung cancer

Direct pulmonary delivery of anti-cancer agents is viewed as an effective way of treating lung cancer. Here, we fabricated inhalable nanoparticles made of human serum albumin (HSA) conjugated with doxorubicin and octyl aldehyde and adsorbed with apoptotic TRAIL protein (TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP). The octyl aldehyde and doxorubicin endowed HSA with significant hydrophobicity that facilitated self-assembly. TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP was found to have excellent particle size (~ 340 nm), morphology, dispersability, and aerosolization properties. TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP displayed synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity in H226 lung cancer cells vs. HSA-NP containing TRAIL or Dox alone. TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP was well deposited in the mouse lungs using an aerosolizer, and TRAIL and Dox-HSA were found to be gradually released over 3 days. The anti-tumor efficacy of pulmonary administered TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP was evaluated in BALB/c nu/nu mice bearing H226 cell-induced metastatic tumors. It was found that the tumors of H226-implanted mice treated with TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP were remarkably smaller and lighter than those of mice treated with TRAIL or Dox HSA-NP alone (337.5 ± 7.5; 678.2 ± 51.5; and 598.9 ± 24.8 mg, respectively). Importantly, this improved anti-tumor efficacy was found to be due to the synergistic apoptotic effects of Dox and TRAIL. In the authors' opinion, TRAIL/Dox HSA-NP offers a potential inhalable anti-lung cancer drug delivery system. Furthermore, the synergism displayed by combined use of Dox and TRAIL could be used to markedly reduce doxorubicin doses and minimize its side effects.