Both additive and synergistic activities have been described for chemotherapy drug combinations co-loaded in the same nanoparticle. Such strategies have been aimed at cancer therapy via dual delivery of anticancer drugs bearing complementary anticancer mechanisms. However, how can one discriminate between an additive and a synergistic anticancer performance? I would like to discuss it.
Dear Miguel Pereira-Silva,
In order to this determination, using separately drug-loaded systems is needed; actually, if you want to distinguish the additive and therapeutic activity of synthetic co-drug-loaded nano-complex, you should separately prepare single drug-loaded systems for two different therapeutic agents and compare their qualitative and quantitative capability with co-loaded drug delivery system via biomedical tests such as cell viability assay, apoptosis tests, and so forth.
Asghar Narmani Thanks!! But how can you discriminate between merely additive effect and synergistic effect?
It is not possible to determine the additive and synergistic effects of two agents in a nano-complex just by comparing its biologic effect with single drug-loaded nano-complexes (one agent in one nanoparticle and another agent in separately in the same nanoparticle).
You need to know a structural (biophysical) or functional (biochemical) properties of the separate drugs and then measure the properties of the mixed-nanoparticle. If knowing the ammount of each protein you measure a higher or lower response probably you will be observing an interaction between proteins within the nanoparticles. This study should be rationalized in a quantitative experiment in order to conclude the type of interaction.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology