In vitro and in vivo evaluation of targeting tumor with folate-based amphiphilic multifunctional stabilizer for resveratrol nanosuspensions

Resveratrol (RSV) nanosuspensions, with long term stability and targeting delivery ability, were designed and demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo model. The folate modified distearoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG-FA), as target delivery carrier, was synthesized and confirmed by FTIR and 1H NMR. D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and DSPE-PEG-FA used as stabilizers formed two RSV nanosuspensions (RSV-NA and RSV-NB), which were prepared by anti-solvent precipitation method and optimized by central composite design-response surface model (CCD-RSM). The morphology of RSV nanosuspensions showed flake shapes and spherical shapes by SEM. And the distribution of particles was uniform by TEM and AFM. The two RSV nanosuspensions displayed an amorphous state, by XRPD and DSC determination. At room temperature, the optimum RSV nanosuspensions showed long term stability for 20 days. The cell proliferation and morphology study revealed that the RSV nanosuspensions significantly enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The recommended safe concentration was 5 μM for in vitro study. In vivo studies of the two nanosuspensions also displayed higher antitumor efficacy by reduced tumor volume and weight. Compared with the saline group, the tumor inhibition ratio of the RSV-NA was 61.53 ± 18.36% and RSV-NB was 64.61 ± 21.13%. The mice weight of the RSV-NA group and RSV-NB group was also maintained constant increasing. These results demonstrated that TPGS and DSPE-PEG-FA could be used as stabilizers for stable RSV nanosuspensions formulation with the potentiality for targeting delivery to human alveolar carcinoma cells with high stability and efficacy.