LogP of N-acyl-gemcitabine and lectin-corona emerge as key parameters in nanoparticulate intravesical cancer therapy.

After surgical removal of the tumour tissue, bladder cancer is treated by intravesical instillation of cytotoxic drugs such as gemcitabine. Gemcitabine, however, is highly hydrophilic and possesses a short half-life due to fast enzymatic deamination. Additionally, continuous dilution by urine, a hardly permeable urothelial barrier and rapid excretion by urination make therapy difficult.