Summary

Most drugs are metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), resulting in their reduced bioavailability. In this study, we present the design and evaluation of biocompatible nanocarriers trapping a natural CYP3A4-inhibiting compound. Our aim in using nanocarriers was to target the natural CYP3A4-inhibiting agent to hepatic CYP3A4 and leave drug-metabolizing enzymes in other organs undisturbed. In the design of such nanocarriers, we took advantage of the nonspecific accumulation of small nanoparticles in the liver. Specific targeting functionalization was added to direct nanocarriers toward hepatocytes. Nanocarriers were evaluated in vitro for their CYP3A4 inhibition capacity and in vivo for their biodistribution, and finally injected 24 hours prior to the drug docetaxel, for their ability to improve the efficiency of the drug docetaxel. Nanoparticles of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) with a hydrodynamic diameter of 63 nm, functionalized with galactosamine, showed efficient in vitro CYP3A4 inhibition and the highest accumulation in hepatocytes. When compared to docetaxel alone, in nude mice bearing the human breast cancer, MDA-MB-231 model, they significantly improved the delay in tumor growth (treated group versus docetaxel alone, percent treated versus control ratio [%T/C] of 32%) and demonstrated a major improvement in overall survival (survival rate of 67% versus 0% at day 55).