Alpha-mangostin combined with doxorubicin-loaded hydrogel for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Liu Xia X, Zhou Wenjie W, Chen Lezong L, Wang Yue Y et al.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies of the female reproductive system and a gynecological malignancy with a high mortality rate. Alpha-mangostin is a xanthone derivative with anticancer activity that can increase the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to doxorubicin, and the combination of the two drugs exerts a synergistic therapeutic effect. However, the poor solubility of α-mangostin limits its application. To solve this problem, we prepared an α-mangostin nanoformulation via self-assembly using the film dispersion method. The formulation had a uniform particle size of approximately 58 nm, a stable nanostructure and good water solubility. Hydrogels, as good thermosensitive drug delivery systems, enable sustained and controlled release of drugs. Accordingly, we utilized the synergistic efficacy of the α-mangostin nanoformulation combined with doxorubicin and used a thermosensitive hydrogel carrier to jointly treat ovarian cancer. In vitro, the combined treatment achieved better effects than either drug alone in inducing ovarian cancer cell apoptosis, inhibiting ovarian cancer cell proliferation, and inducing cell cycle arrest. In vivo, this composite formulation effectively inhibited tumor growth by inducing ovarian cancer cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, and suppressing tumor angiogenesis, and effectively inhibited ascites formation, achieving a better antitumor effect than either drug alone. In summary, the composite hydrogel co-loaded with α-mangostin nanoformulation and doxorubicin represents a promising and effective strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.