Abstract
A combination of two or more chemotherapeutic agents in a nanoparticle is a promising approach to improve the treatment effectiveness and reduce their toxicity. In this study, the formulations of 30mg/kg of gemcitabine (GEM) mixed with 2.5mg/kg of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), either loaded on a microemulsion (GEM+5'FU-ME) or dissolved in water (GEM+5'FU-Sol), were examined to explore their antitumor activity in mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Eighty mice were split into eight groups (10 mice/group). Group I served as the untreated EAC bearing mice. Groups II-VIII were EAC bearing mice treated with free GEM (GEM-Sol), GEM-loaded-ME (GEM-ME), free 5-FU (5'FU-Sol), 5-FU-loaded-ME (5'FU-ME), GEM+5'FU-Sol, GEM+5'FU-ME and the blank-ME (B-ME), respectively. The hepatotoxicity was identified by determining the serum enzymes, and studying the histological changes of the liver tissues. The z-average diameter and zeta potential of the nanodroplets of GEM+5'FU-ME were 122.1 +/- 26.80nm and -4.40 +/- 1.76mV, respectively. Results demonstrated that drug-loaded ME formulations have lowered the enzyme levels of ALT, AST and ALP and did not cause damage in the hepatocytes when compared to the drug solution formulations. In conclusion, the combination treatments of GEM and 5-FU in a ME may protect the drugs from degradation in the liver.