These results indicated that chemical reduction

was required for the formation of the PtII species which bind to DNA. In vitro studies showed that 8-MWCNTs were efficiently delivered into A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cancer cells in comparison to the free PtIV prodrug which was readily dissipated into the ambient environment [ 11]. Ajima et al. have incorporated cisplatin into selleck chemical single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWCNHox). SWCNHox offer various advantages over conventional CNTs. The in vitro cytotoxicity of cisplatin in SWCNHox was ca. four to six fold greater than free CDDP towards human lung cells, NCI-H460 [ 12]. Dhar et al. have tethered a PtIV complex via amide linkages to AuNPs functionalised with thiolated 28-mer oligonucleotides (9). Pt-DNA-Au nanoparticles were most active in A549 lung cancer cells, displaying cytotoxicity ca. 12-fold higher than free CDDP [ 13••]. Selleck GSK3 inhibitor Min et al. have conjugated a PtIV prodrug (10) to amine-functionalised PEGylated gold nanorods (AuNRs); it is reduced to PtII by cellular reductants. Nanorods possess longer circulation times than

nanoparticles rendering their accumulation more efficient within tumour cells. The PtIV-PEG-AuNRs were most active in the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, exhibiting an IC50 of 0.18 μm, significantly more potent than free cisplatin IC50 of 11.8 μm [ 14]. In similar work, Brown et al. functionalised AuNPs with thiolated PEG tethered to the active fragment of also oxaliplatin, Pt(R,R-dach)2+ (11 and 12, Figure 1h). Similarly, these Pt-AuNPs were almost 6x more active towards A549 lung cancer cells than free oxaliplatin but ca. 5x more active, or as active, as free oxaliplatin in various colon cancer cell lines [ 15]. These results demonstrate increased potency of platinum complexes conjugated to gold nanoparticles/rods. Use of inorganic nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance is being explored [16]. Treatment of T24 bladder cancer cells

with aqueous CDDP loaded into hollow Prussian blue (HPB) nanoparticles results in breakage of the cell membrane and changes in cell morphology indicative of cell death. HPB nanoparticles show potential as future vectors owing to their biocompatibility, although their size needs to be optimised to allow a higher percentage of loaded cisplatin to be released [17]. Likhitkar et al. have developed a novel method for the synthesis of superparamagnetic (SPM) nanoparticles impregnated with nano-sized iron oxide loaded with aqueous cisplatin (13). Cisplatin was released in both the absence and presence of a magnetic field through a controlled diffusion pathway. However, the quantity of cisplatin released was influenced by pH and temperature of the medium in addition to the presence of an external magnetic field [ 18]. Xing et al.