albumin-bound copper diethyldithiocarbamate

Albumin-bound copper diethyldithiocarbamate (Alb-CuDDC) is a nanoparticle formulation developed to overcome the pharmacological limitations of disulfiram's active anticancer metabolite. Disulfiram, an established anti-alcoholism medication, forms a potent cytotoxic complex when chelated with copper (Cu(DDC)2), but this complex suffers from poor aqueous solubility and rapid degradation in the bloodstream. By encapsulating Cu(DDC)2 within human serum albumin nanoparticles, the formulation achieves enhanced stability, solubility, and a prolonged circulation profile. Preclinical studies, particularly in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) models, have demonstrated that Alb-CuDDC effectively induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth, showing synergy with standard-of-care agents like gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Its mechanism involves the inhibition of the NPL4-p97 segregase complex and the proteasome, leading to the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and subsequent cell death.

Other names

Alb-Cu(DDC)2albumin nano-encapsulated copper diethyldithiocarbamate