Designing pH-Dependent Systems Based on Nanoscale Calcium Carbonate for the Delivery of an Antitumor Drug

Abstract

Materials based on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) are widely used in biomedical research (e.g., as carriers of bioactive substances). The biocompatibility of CaCO3 and dependence of its stability on pH make these materials promising transporters of therapeutic agents to sites with low pH such as a tumor tissue. In this work, we developed an approach to the preparation of nanoscale particles based on CaCO3 (CaNPs) up to 200 nm in size by coprecipitation and analyzed the interaction of the nanoparticles with an anticancer drug: DOXorubicin (DOX). We also showed a prolonged pH-dependent release of DOX from a CaNP nanocarrier and effective inhibition of cancer cell growth by a CaCO3-and-DOX–based composite (CaNP7-DOX) in in vitro models.

pH-Responsible Doxorubicin-Loaded Fe3O4@CaCO3 Nanocomposites for Cancer Treatment

“…Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) is a well-known mineral applied in various biocompatible materials [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. CaCO 3 is the cheapest inorganic coating with a porous structure, pH-sensitive drug loading and release, and high stability [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 ]. Recently, we have fabricated nanoscale porous, anticancer drug-loaded CaCO 3 that showed excellent A549 cell inhibition [ 41 ].…”

“…CaCO 3 is the cheapest inorganic coating with a porous structure, pH-sensitive drug loading and release, and high stability [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 ]. Recently, we have fabricated nanoscale porous, anticancer drug-loaded CaCO 3 that showed excellent A549 cell inhibition [ 41 ]. Moreover, CaCO 3 nanoparticles exhibit weak acid decomposition, which can be found in the cancer microenvironment and endosomal compartment, facilitating drug release in tumors [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…Recently, we have fabricated nanoscale porous, anticancer drug-loaded CaCO 3 that showed excellent A549 cell inhibition [ 41 ]. Moreover, CaCO 3 nanoparticles exhibit weak acid decomposition, which can be found in the cancer microenvironment and endosomal compartment, facilitating drug release in tumors [ 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Hence, the magnetic core/inorganic shell hybrid nanocomposite possesses remarkable priority over other MNCs.…”

“…Doxorubicin (DOX) is an outstanding anticancer drug [ 57 , 58 , 59 ]. The DOX loading on nanoparticles’ surface serves as a prospective system that reduces side effects and avoids drug resistance problems [ 41 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Therefore, it is essential to develop new pH-stimuli-responsive DOX-released multifunctional constructions based on MNCs [ 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Spatiotemporal based response for methylene blue removal using surface modified calcium carbonate microspheres coated with Bacillus sp.

“…This makes it one of the most used materials that has been extensively applied in scientic, environmental, and applicative elds. [10][11][12] Recently, CaCO 3 microparticles, especially spherical ones, have been exploited in different elds as propitious conjugation moieties for a diversity of biological and chemical molecules because of its high specic surface area and high stability. 13,14 Controlling the surface characteristics of microparticles is crucial in many types of biological applications since they impact the interactions between particles and different biological agents and, thus, the overall performance of the system.…”