Dichloroacetate nanoparticles and doxorubicin combinatorial treatment augment the hepato-renal function in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

TL;DR

This study shows that combining dichloroacetate nanoparticles with doxorubicin improves liver and kidney function in a cancer model while reducing chemotherapy side effects.

Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating that dichloroacetate nanoparticles combined with doxorubicin enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce toxicity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

Findings

Dichloroacetate nanoparticles showed effective drug encapsulation and optimal size and morphology.

The combination treatment improved liver and kidney function and reduced oxidative stress in cancer cells.

The nanoparticle-based therapy minimized systemic toxicity caused by doxorubicin.

Abstract

Cancer cells are addressed through conventional chemotherapy, resulting in tumour resistance and systemic toxicities affecting organ functions. Nanoparticle (NPs) represent a promising approach to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects. This study aims to improve hepato-renal function by dichloroacetate nanoparticles (DCA-PNPs) and doxorubicin (Dox) combinatorial treatment in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model.

Dichloroacetate nanoparticles characterizations showed effective drug encapsulation, optimal particles size, morphology, and distribution. Biochemical analysis showed normalized protein content, improved lipid profile, enhanced liver, kidney functions, antioxidant activity, and decreased oxidative-stress with Dox/DCA-PNPs combination treatment, indicating that NPs-based therapy enhanced therapeutic outcomes and minimized systemic toxicity via mitigated Dox side effects and maintained organ's function. This study elucidates that Dox/DCA-PNPs combination therapy provides a more effective strategy for EAC hepatorenal function improvements.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-025-07534-3.

Figures