Target Distribution of Magnetic Albumin Nanoparticles Containing Adriamycin in Transplanted Rat Liver Cancer Model

Background: Liver cancer is one of the most common diseases around the world. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of magnetic field application on target distribution of nanoparticles in transplanted rat liver cancer model and to find out a new method for the treatment of malignant liver tumor.

Methods: Seven days after the establishment of the model, the abdomen of the rat was exposed through a midline abdominal incision. A cannula was inserted into the gastro-duodenal artery. In the experimental group (12 rats), the tumor tissue was exposed to the magnetic field for 30 minutes. Magnetic albumin nanoparticles containing adriamycin or at an equal dose of free adriamycin (0.5 mg/kg) were injected into the hepatic artery. After the magnetic field was removed, the rat was immediately sacrificed. An equal dose of nanoparticles in absence of the magnetic field served as control (12 rats). Tissues of tumor, nontargeted sites of the liver, heart, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach and small intestine were analyzed for gamma-counts and examined histologically.

Results: In the experimental group, the radioactivity of tumor tissue was 8.7 times that of liver tissue. In the control group, the radioactivity of tumor tissue was 2.8 times that of normal liver tissue. The radioactivity of the lung was reduced more significantly in the experimental group than in the control group. No significant difference in the kidney, heart, spleen, small intestine and stomach was observed between the experimental group and control group. And over 80% of the injected nanoparticles distributed in the liver.

Conclusions: In the presence of magnetic field, magnetic albumin nanoparticles may accumulate in tumor tissues, of which the radioactivity can increase to 8.7 times that of normal liver. Even if the magnetic field is not applied, magnetic albumin nanoparticles in tumor tissues still increase to 2.8 times that of normal liver tissues. These findings indicate that normal organs in the presence of magnetic field are less exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs.