N-octanoylglucosylceramide

N-octanoylglucosylceramide (also known as C8-glucosylceramide) is a synthetic short-chain glycosphingolipid (a glucosylceramide derivative) studied primarily as a research compound and drug delivery enhancer. It is designed to modulate plasma membrane dynamics and reduce membrane barrier function, thereby facilitating the cellular uptake and enhancing the cytotoxicity of amphiphilic chemotherapeutic agents, such as liposomal doxorubicin (e.g., Caelyx). When coformulated or postinserted into liposomal doxorubicin, N-octanoylglucosylceramide has been shown to increase intracellular doxorubicin accumulation by up to 4- to 6-fold in cancer cell lines, such as A431 epidermoid carcinoma and B16 melanoma, and to improve antitumor efficacy in vivo without inducing significant systemic toxicity.

Other names

C8-GlcCerC-8-GlcCerC 8-GlcCerC8-glucosylceramideC-8-glucosylceramideC 8-glucosylceramideN-octanoyl-D-glucosylsphingosineN-octanoyl-glucosylceramide