Enhancing the Kinetic Stability of Polymeric Nanomicelles (PLGA) Using Nano-Montmorillonite for Effective Targeting of Cancer Tumors

Abstract

The toxic profile of chemical cross-linkers used in enhancing the stability of self-assembled nanomicelles made of amphiphilic polymeric materials hinders their use in clinical applications. This study was aimed to use the layered structure of Na-montmorillonite (MMT) as a stabilizer for nanomicelles made of poly­(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) amphiphilic polymer. The size of Na-MMT was reduced below 40 nm (nano-MMT) by processing in an attritor prior to its incorporation with PLGA. Hybrid PLGA nano-MMT (PM) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using dialysis nanoprecipitation. The size distribution was measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Loading 1250 μg of the model drug molecule curcumin to PM (PMC) resulted in obtaining 88 nm-sized particles, suitable for passive targeting of cancer tumors. The structure of nano-MMT and its position in PMC were investigated using FT-IR, differential scanning chalorimetry (DSC), XRF, XRD, ESEM, and EDAX assays, all of which showed the exfoliated structure of nano-MMT incorporated with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks of PLGA. Curcumin was mutually loaded to PLGA and nano-MMT. This firm incorporation caused a serious extension in the release of curcumin from PMC compared to PLGA (PC). Fitting the release profile to different mathematical models showed the remarkable role of nano-MMT in surface modification of PLGA NPs. The ex vivo dynamic model showed the enhanced stability of PMC in simulated blood flow, while cytotoxicity assays showed that nano-MMT does not aggravate the good toxic profile of PLGA but improves the anticancer effect of payload. Nano-MMT could be used as an effective nontoxic stabilizer agent for self-assembled NPs.

Formulation and Characterization of Raloxifene loaded Biodegradable Polymeric Nanomicelles

“…Firstly, triblock copolymer (PLGA 50:50 10 mg) was dissolved into the acetone, following the mixture was added into deionized water (10 mL) with the help of magnetic stirrers at 2-8ºC until a blush tint color clear solution was formed. [24][25][26]…”

“…RAL-loaded PLGA 50:50 nano-micelles were characterized by various parameters for instance, Particle size, particle size diameter, zeta potential, morphological characterization like, SEM, %drug loading and %entrapment efficiency, in-vitro RAL release profile. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]…”

Study on Central Composite Design Method to Optimize the Preparation Process of Chrysophanol‐Pluronic F127 Nanomicelles and Pharmacokinetics

“…Nanomicelles. The nanomicelles were prepared by dialysis method [13][14][15]. The appropriate amount of Chrysophanol and the appropriate amount of Pluronic F127 were precisely weighed and dissolved with the appropriate amount of acetone, and after the solution was clarified, it was slowly injected into 10 mL of ultrapure water with a syringe and magnetically stirred at 1000 r•min -1 for 60 min, and the obtained solution was injected into the treated dialysis bags for 24 h. After 24 h, the solution in the dialysis bag was removed to a centrifuge tube, the free Chrysophanol was dispersed by centrifugation in a high-speed centrifuge, and the supernatant was the prepared nanomicelles.…”