Therapeutic PEG-ceramide nanomicelles synergize with salinomycin to target both liver cancer cells and cancer stem cells.

AIM: Salinomycin (SAL)-loaded PEG-ceramide nanomicelles (SCM) were prepared to target both liver cancer cells and cancer stem cells.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The synergistic ratio of SAL/PEG-ceramide was evaluated to prepare SCM, and the antitumor activity of SCM was examined both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS: SAL/PEG-ceramide molar ratio of 1:4 was chosen as the synergistic ratio, and SCM showed superior cytotoxic effect and increased apoptosis-inducing activity in both liver cancer cells and cancer stem cells. In vivo, SCM showed the best tumor inhibitory effect with a safety profile.

CONCLUSION: Thus, PEG-ceramide nanomicelles could serve as an effective and safe therapeutic drug carrier to deliver SAL into liver cancer, opening up the avenue of using PEG-ceramide as therapeutic drug carriers.