Niosomal daunorubicin with reduced toxicity and improved anticancer activity in Swiss mice bearing fibrosarcoma

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) are promising drug carriers for anticancer drugs. With the aim to modify drug disposition and to increase the therapeutic efficacy of the drug, daunorubicin, niosomes were prepared by dichloromethane injection method. The preparations were then characterized with respect to size and its distribution, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release profile and its stability under specified conditions. Anti-tumor efficacy bearing solid tumour (fibrosarcoma) and organ toxicity studies in Swiss mice were conducted with the niosomes administered by intravenous route at a dose of 5 & 10 mg kg^-1 body weight. Niosomes were spherical, though occasionally oval with a mean diameter of 4.6 μm. The entrapment efficiency of the drug was found to be 93.97 ± 1.71%, with the drug being incorporated into the aqueous layer of the vesicles. Prepared niosomes were stable as evident by less drug leakage under different conditions of storage and released the loaded drug in a controlled fashion. Anti-tumor studies indicate a significant difference (P<0.05) in volume doubling time between the free drug and daunorubicin niosomes at both doses. The animals treated with drug formulation also exhibited dramatic decrease in cardiac toxicity. The results revealed that encapsulation of daunorubicin in niosomes is a potential tool for the effective delivery of drug, as this formulation not only reduces the cardiotoxicity associated with it but also enhances antitumour efficacy.