Magnetic nanoparticles coated with polyarabic acid demonstrate enhanced drug delivery and imaging properties for cancer theranostic applications

Abstract

Therapeutic targeting of tumor cells with drug nanocarriers relies upon successful interaction with membranes and efficient cell internalization. A further consideration is that engineered nanomaterials should not damage healthy tissues upon contact. A critical factor in this process is the external coating of drug delivery nanodevices. Using in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies, we show for the first time that magnetic nanoparticles coated with polyarabic acid have superior imaging, therapeutic, and biocompatibility properties. We demonstrate that polyarabic acid coating allows for efficient penetration of cell membranes and internalization into breast cancer cells. Polyarabic acid also allows reversible loading of the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin, which upon release suppresses tumor growth in vivo in a mouse model of breast cancer. Furthermore, these nanomaterials provide in vivo contrasting properties, which directly compare with commercial gadolinium-based contrasting agents. Finally, we report excellent biocompatibility, as these nanomaterial cause minimal, if any cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. We thus propose that magnetic nanodevices coated with polyarabic acid offer a new avenue for theranostics efforts as efficient drug carriers, while providing excellent contrasting properties due to their ferrous magnetic core, which can help the future design of nanomaterials for cancer imaging and therapy.

Theranostics Based on Magnetic Nanoparticles and Polymers: Intelligent Design for Efficient Diagnostics and Therapy

“…Polyarabic acid, which is a major component of acacia gum, is biocompatible and facilitates penetration of cell membranes. Coating of magnetite NPs with polyarabic acid followed by further functionalization and DOX loading allowed fabrication of theranostic nanosystems with excellent cell penetration, DOX uptake, and pH sensitive DOX release in breast cancer tumor cells (Patitsa et al, 2017). Additionally, the NPs demonstrated great biocompatibility, minimal cytotoxicity, and contrasting properties comparable to current commercial agents.…”

Tailoring the Nanoparticles Surface for Efficient Cancer Therapeutics Delivery

“…Earlier anti-cancer drugs received much attention; due to the biocompatible nature of IONPs and are used as anti-cancer drug vehicles for the cancer therapeutic applications. Many anti-cancer drugs, for example, Doxorubicin (DOX), temozolomide (TMZ), and paclitaxel (PTX) are used with biocompatible coatings around IONPs and have been effectively validated in vitro and in vivo for their cancer treatment efficacy [47,48].…”

Binding modes of carboxylic acids on cobalt nanoparticles

“…[7][8][9] Understanding the surface chemistry and the interaction between the surfactant and the nanoparticle therefore plays a major role in tuning the properties and the performance of the final nanocomposite. 10,11 While many chemical reactions at nanoparticle surfaces are very well understood experimentally, with strategies for the control of the surfactant architecture developed accordingly, atomic-level details about bond formation and charge transfer remain difficult to explore.…”