effect of folate-targeted erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles on tumor size and survival rate in a rat model of glioblastoma

Aim and background: the aim of this study was to prepare folate-targeted erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (fa-erl-hsa nps) and investigate in vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic effects using cell lines (u87mg and c6 cells) and an in vivo rat bearing c6 glioma model.methods: the fa-erl-hsa nps prepared using a desolvation method and evaluated on u87,c6 and rat bearing glioma model.conclusion: the mean size of the fa-erl-hsa nps was 135 nm. in vitro mtt assays demonstrated that fa-erl-hsa nps had an ic50 value of 52.18 μg/ml and 17.53 μg/ml compared to free erl which had an ic50 value of 119.8 μg/ml and 103.2 μg/ml for u87mg and c6 cells for 72 h, respectively. flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate with fa-erl-hsa nps (100 μg/ml, 72 h) was higher compared to free erl for both u87mg and c6 cells. experiments using a rat glioblastoma model via tunel assay indicated that the apoptosis index of fa-erl-hsa nps was 48 % compared to 21 % for free erl and the tumor size effectively decreased after a daily injection of 220 μg (2.5 mg/kg) from 87.45 mm3 (19th day) to 1.28 mm3 (60th day). the median survival rate of the rats increased after treatment to >100 days which was greater than controls.