doxorubicin + heparin nanoparticles

Doxorubicin + heparin nanoparticles are experimental anticancer formulations consisting of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin combined with the polysaccharide heparin to form self-assembled nanostructures. These nanoparticles are designed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, allowing for targeted delivery to tumor tissues while minimizing systemic toxicities such as cardiotoxicity and complement activation. The heparin component serves as a biocompatible carrier that provides anti-metastatic properties and can modulate the tumor microenvironment. In specific applications like glioblastoma, these nanoparticles have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and downregulate heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HBEGF), shifting mesenchymal-like glioma stem cells into less plastic astroglial-like states. While doxorubicin typically works via DNA intercalation, some heparin-conjugated versions primarily induce cell death through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Other names

heparin-based nanoparticlesdoxorubicin-heparin conjugate nanoparticlesDOX-HP nanoparticlesheparin-doxorubicin nanoparticles