PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of Intra-ductal delivery system for Breast Cancer Therapy

Treating cancer by chemotherapy and other therapeutic means requires maintaining a very high drug concentration at the tumor site and minimizing the drug concentration in other parts of the body where it can cause side effects. For breast cancers, the mammary ducts provide regions where doses could potentially be administered however keeping the dose in that location without flowing to other parts of the body remains a challenge. Recently, researchers at South Dakota State University used PLGA (AP211, AP252, AP062) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to develop microparticle and in-situ gel formulations for nanoparticle delivery into the mammary ducts. This research holds promise to improve breast cancer therapies in the future. Read more: Joseph, Mibin Kuruvilla, Md Saiful Islam, Joshua Reineke, Michael Hildreth, Tofuko Woyengo, Angela Pillatzki, Aravind Baride, and Omathanu Perumal. "Intraductal Drug Delivery to the Breast: Effect of Particle size and Formulation on Breast Duct and Lymph Node Retention." Molecular Pharmaceutics (2019). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00879

“Abstract: Drug delivery by direct intraductal administration can achieve high local drug concentration in the breast and minimize systemic levels. However, the clinical application of this approach for breast cancer treatment is limited by the rapid clearance of the drug from the ducts. With the goal of developing strategies to prolong drug retention in the breast, this study was focused on understanding the influence of particle size and formulation on breast duct and lymph node retention. Fluorescent labeled polystyrene (PS) particles ranging in size from 100-1000 nm were used to study the influence of particle size. Polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was used to develop and test formulations for intraductal delivery. Cy5.5, a near IR dye was encapsulated in PLGA microparticles, nanoparticles and in-situ gel to study the biodistribution in rats using an in-vivo imager. PS microparticles (1 µm) showed longer retention in the duct compared to 100 and 500 nm nanoparticles. The ductal retention half-life was five-fold higher for PS microparticles compared to the nanoparticles. On the other hand, the free dye was cleared from the breast within 6 hours. PLGA nanoparticles sustained the release of Cy 5.5 for >4 days. Microparticles and gel showed a much slower release than nanoparticles. PLGA in-situ gel and microparticles were retained in the breast for up to 4 days, while the nanoparticles were retained in the breast for 2 days. PLGA nanoparticles and microparticles drained to the axillary lymph node and were retained for up to 24 hours and 48 hours respectively, while the in-situ gel and free dye did not show any detectable fluorescence in the lymph nodes. Taken together, the results demonstrate the feasibility of prolonged retention in the breast duct and lymph node by optimal formulation design. The findings can serve as a framework to design formulations for localized treatment of breast cancer.”

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