Sonochemically prepared BSA microspheres containing Gemcitabine, and their potential application in renal cancer therapeutics

This report demonstrates the formation and characterization of sonochemically prepared bovine serum albumin (BSA)–Gemzar (Gemcitabine) microspheres and shows their increased anticancer activity compared to pristine Gemzar. The amount of loaded Gemzar was determined by light absorption measurements. The BSA–Gemzar composite was analyzed and characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The release kinetics of Gemzar from the proteinaceous microspheres was tested. The BSA–Gemzar composite was examined for its anticancer activity (in vitro) in renal cancer cells (RCC, 786-O cells) using [3H]thymidine incorporation assays. It was found that the influence of the Gemzar-loaded microspheres on the cancer cells was significantly greater than that of an equimolar concentration of pristine Gemzar.