Improved Physicochemical Stability and Retinoblastoma Anticancer Activity of Salt-Caged Acid-Base Neutralized Melphalan Loaded in L-Glutathione and pH Responsive Fattigated Nanoparticles

Purpose

The clinical uses of melphalan (MEL) for ocular retinoblastoma (RB) delivery are limited by its poor aqueous stability and insufficient ocular bioavailability. Intravitreal injection of MEL is also invasive and less common for patients. A novel MEL-loaded formulation was developed to improve the stability and RB cellular uptake of MEL using the acid-base neutralization (ABN) and the enzyme-responsive hyaluronic acid (HA)-cystamine (CYS)-oleic acid (OA) nanoparticles (HON).