Review Article

Drug Delivery Innovations for Enhancing the Anticancer Potential of Vitamin E Isoforms and Their Derivatives

Table 2

Novel formulations to improve the delivery and anticancer effect of tocotrienols alone and in combination with other drugs.

FormulationCancer modelEffectIC50Reference

Unilamellar TRF-vesicles bearing transferrinA431 (epidermoid carcinoma), T98G (glioblastoma), and A2780 (ovarian carcinoma) cells, A431 cells implanted in BALB/c miceThreefold higher TRF uptake and more than 100-fold improved cytotoxicity in vitro, tumor regression, and improvement of animal survivalRanging from 0.05 ± 0.02 to 1.42 ± 0.30 µg/mL depending on the cell line[78]

Multilamellar TRF-vesicles bearing transferrinA431 human epidermoid carcinoma, T98G human glioblastoma, B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells, and A431 or B16-F10-luc-G5 tumors in BALB/c miceImproved TRF uptake and cytotoxicity in vitro, slower growth of A431 and B16-F10 tumors, and long-term survival of 100% of the animalsRanging from 0.89 ± 0.11 to 4.09 ± 0.65 μg/mL depending on the cell line[79]

Lipid nanoemulsions loaded with TRF and SimvastatinMCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cellsDecrease of TRF IC50Decreased from 14 to 10 μM in MCF-7 and from 7 to 4.8 μM in MDA-MB-231 cells when Simvastatin was added [84]

Nanoemulsified formulation of T3-rich palm oil (Tocomin-NE)Human cutaneous carcinoma in vitro Increased cytotoxicityTocomin-NE 42.6 ± 3.8 mM and
47.3 ± 3.2 mM, Tocomin control 217.4 mM and 278.5 mM in A431 cells and SCC-4 cells, respectively
[85]

EPI-NPs coadministered with tocotrienolsHep G2 (HCC) cells in vitro, HCC mouse model in Albino miceEnhanced antiproliferative effect in vitro, enhanced apoptosis, and reduced VEGF level in vivo Free EPI viability >90%
EPI-NPs 0.9 μg/mL, EPI-NPs tocotrienols 2 μg/mL
[86]

Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF), Epirubicin (EPI), nanoparticles (NPs), and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).