Mycophenolate co-administration with quercetin via lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles for enhanced breast cancer management

Abstract Mycophenolic acid (MPA) having promising anticancer properties, however, it has limited clinical applications in vivo due to hydrophobic nature, high first-pass metabolism, lack of targeting, etc. These associated problems could be addressed by developing a suitable delivery vehicle, inhibiting the first-pass metabolism and additive/synergistic pharmacodynamic effect. Thus, MPA loaded highly stable lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) were developed and investigated with the combination of quercetin (QC); a CYP 450 inhibitor cum anticancer. LPNs of MPA and QC (size; 136.11 ± 12.4 and 176 ± 34.65 nm, respectively) demonstrated higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of combination therapy (MPA-LPN + QC-LPN) compared to individual congeners in MCF-7 cells. In vivo pharmacokinetics demonstrated 2.17 fold higher T1/2 value and significantly higher pharmacodynamic activity in case of combination therapy compared to free MPA. In nutshell, the combinatory therapeutic regimen of MPA and QC could be a promising approach in improved breast cancer management.