Toxicity and antitumor activity of niosomal bleomycin in tumor bearing mice.

Niosomal encapsulation of bleomycin enhanced the antitumor activity against Ehrilich ascites and sarcoma-180 models. The niosomal/free drug mean survival time values of 1.28 was achieved in Ehrlich ascites infected animals. Niosomal bleomycin considerably increased the 40 days survival rate in mice. Tumor volume doubling time of S-180 tumor was also increased significantly in niosomal treated animals. Histopathological studies of lung and jejunum of Niosomal bleomycin treated mice, confirmed the less toxic potential of encapsulated bleomycin. The suppression of peripheral and bone marrow WBC counts upon niosomal bleomycin treatment was not substantial.