TY - JOUR T1 - The Use of Styrene Maleic Acid Nanomicelles Encapsulating the Synthetic Cannabinoid Analog WIN55,212-2 for the Treatment of Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4707 LP - 4712 VL - 35 IS - 9 AU - SUSAN XIAN AU - NEHA N. PARAYATH AU - HAYLEY NEHOFF AU - NIROSHINI M. GILES AU - KHALED GREISH Y1 - 2015/09/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/35/9/4707.abstract N2 - Synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2 (WIN) has shown a promise as an anticancer agent but causes psychoactive side-effects. In the present study, nano-micelles of styrene maleic acid (SMA)-conjugated WIN were synthesized to reduce side-effects and increase drug efficacy. SMA–WIN micelles were characterised and their in vitro cytotoxic effect was compared to that of free WIN against triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (MCF-7) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC3) cell lines. SMA–WIN micelles were synthesised with a ~15% loading, 132.7 nm average diameter, −0.0388 mV charge, and pH-dependent release rate. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed in all three cell lines treated with both free and micellar WIN, with both formulations demonstrating equal cytotoxicity. Conclusion: SMA–WIN demonstrated characteristics theorized to improve in vivo drug biodistribution. Potent cytotoxicity was found against breast and prostate cancer cells in vitro, showing promise as a novel treatment against breast and prostate cancer. ER -