ReV as a Novel S. cerevisiae-Derived Drug Carrier to Enhance Anticancer Therapy through Daunorubicin Delivery

This study explores the potential of vacuoles derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) as a novel form of drug carrier, specifically focusing on their application in enhancing the delivery of the chemotherapeutic agent Daunorubicin (DNR). We isolated and reassembled these vacuoles, referred to as Reassembled Vacuoles (ReV), aiming to overcome the challenges of drug degradation caused by hydrolytic enzymes within traditional vacuoles. ReV encapsulating DNR were tested against HL-60 cells, a model for acute myeloid leukemia, to evaluate their therapeutic impact. Through various analyses, including Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Field-emission electron scanning microscope (FE-SEM), we characterized the properties of ReV. Our findings revealed that ReV exhibited superior stability, drug release rate, and cytotoxic efficacy compared to normal vacuoles (NorV). Notably, ReV demonstrated a higher apoptosis rate in HL-60 cells, efficient and complete release of DNR within 24 h, and reduced cytotoxic side effects. These results suggest that ReV could represent a new and effective drug delivery system in anticancer therapy, paving the way for more targeted and safer cancer treatment modalities.