Hyaluronic acid/polyethyleneimine nanoparticles loaded with copper ion and disulfiram for esophageal cancer.

In the clinical treatment of cancer, improving the effectiveness and targeting of drugs has always been a bottleneck problem that needs to be solved. In this contribution, inspired by the targeted inhibition on cancer from combination application of disulfiram and divalent copper ion (Cu), we optimized the concentration of disulfiram and Cu ion for inhibiting esophageal cancer cells, and loaded them in hyaluronic acid (HA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanoparticles with specific scales, in order to improve the effectiveness and targeting of drugs. The in vitro cell experiments demonstrated that more drug loaded HA/PEI nanoparticles accumulated to the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Eca109) and promoted higher apoptosis ratio of Eca109. Both in vitro and in vivo biological assessment verified that the disulfiram/Cu loaded HA/PEI nanoparticles promoted the apoptosis of cancer cells and inhibited the tumor proliferation, but had no toxicity on other normal organs.