Alendronate-Modified Polymeric Micelles for the Treatment of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis

Although the prognosis of patients with breast cancer continues to improve, breast cancer metastasis to bone remains high in incidence and challenging to manage. Here, we report the development of bone-homing alendronate (ALN) anchored biodegradable polymeric micelles for the targeted treatment of metastatic cancer to bone. These micelles exhibite bone protective capacity including the recruitment, differentiation, and resorption activity of the osteoclasts. Encapsulation o docetaxel (DTX), the first-line chemotherapeutic for treatment of metastatic breast cancer, in ALN-modified micelles results i a sustained release, enhanced cytotoxicity, and improved pharmacokinetics. In the syngeneic animal model of late-stag disseminated breast cancer bone metastasis, the treatment with targeted DTX-loaded micelles attenuated the tumorigenesis an significantly improved animal lifespan compared to the conventional surfactant-based formulation (free DTX). These finding indicate potential applications of the osteotropic nanomedicines for bone metastasis treatment.