# Self-Assembled Gefitinib Nanosuspension Prepared via Hummer Acoustic Resonance Technology: Enhanced Dissolution, In Vitro Anticancer Activity and Long-Term Stability

**Authors:** Hai-Li Wu, Ru-Yan Wen, Ling Chen, Zhen-Long Hu, Bao-Yi Qin, Jie-Feng Chen, Meng-Hua Liu, Xuan-Qi Huang, Ning Lin, Qing Chen

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics18030343 · Pharmaceutics · 2026-03-11

## TL;DR

A new nanosuspension of gefitinib and genistein was developed using acoustic resonance technology, improving drug solubility, stability, and cancer cell inhibition.

## Contribution

First demonstration of using hammer acoustic resonance technology to rapidly fabricate a self-assembled nanosuspension with enhanced drug properties.

## Key findings

- GG-NS showed 3.76-fold and 13-fold improved dissolution of gefitinib and genistein, respectively.
- The nanosuspension remained stable for five months at 4°C and 25°C.
- GG-NS exhibited 33.8% higher cytotoxicity against A549 cells compared to the physical mixture.

## Abstract

Background: Gefitinib (Gef) is a first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor for NSCLC, but its clinical application is limited by poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability. Methods: A self-assembled gefitinib nanosuspension (GG-NS) incorporating genistein (Gen) was rapidly developed and optimized via hammer acoustic resonance (HAR) technology. Systematic optimization was conducted using a high-throughput HAR-based process, with particle size, PDI, and zeta potential as key evaluation parameters. Structural and morphological characteristics were analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In vitro dissolution behavior and cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells were evaluated. Results: Optimal GG-NS with Z-Ave = 223.50 ± 1.53 nm, PDI = 0.239 ± 0.031 and zeta potential = −24.10 ± 0.47 mV was successfully prepared. The nanosuspension remained physically stable for up to five months at both 4 °C and 25 °C. Compared with the raw drugs, GG-NS enhanced the dissolution of gefitinib and genistein in water by 3.76-fold and 13-fold, respectively. In addition, GG-NS showed significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against A549 cells, with a 33.8% higher inhibition rate than the physical mixture after 72 h. Conclusions: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that HAR technology enables the rapid fabrication of a self-assembled GG-NS with improved dissolution performance, physicochemical stability, and in vitro anticancer activity, highlighting its promise as an efficient and scalable formulation strategy for poorly soluble anticancer drugs.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)
- **Chemicals:** Gefitinib (PubChem CID 123631), Gef (PubChem CID 6327278), genistein (PubChem CID 5280961), Gen (PubChem CID 5280961)
- **Diseases:** NSCLC (MONDO:0005233), lung cancer (MONDO:0005138)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}
- **Diseases:** cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420)
- **Chemicals:** GG-NS (-), Gef (MESH:D000077156), Gen (MESH:D019833), water (MESH:D014867)

## Full text

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## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13028922/full.md

## References

42 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13028922/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13028922