Preparation of wormlike polymeric nanoparticles coated with silica for delivery of methotrexate and evaluation of anticancer activity against MCF7 cells

Abstract

Methotrexate is one of the most effective drugs that is commonly used in the treatment of cancer. However, its application is limited due to low solubility, high toxicity and rapid metabolism. Therefore, in the present study, worm-like polymeric nanoparticles as carrier of methotrexate were prepared using biodegradable copolymers (mPEG-PCL). The impact of nanoparticles' geometry on the loading, delivery and drug's anti-cancer activity was investigated. The di-block copolymer mPEG-PCL was being synthesized by a ring opening polymerization of ɛ-caprolactone in the presence of mPEG as the initiator and Sn(oct) as the catalyst. It was used for the preparation of worm-like micelles and coated with silica, so that their structures are stable after drying. The synthesized copolymers and nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, HNMR, GPC, XRD, TGA, DLS, and FE-SEM analyses. The efficiencies of drug loading and release of nanoparticles as in vitro, was studied by high performance liquid chromatography. The MTT method was used to estimate the toxicity on MCF-7 cell category. The obtained results showed that the nanoparticles were worm-like particles with less than 150 nm diameter and about 1 µm length. The loading and encapsulation efficiencies of drug by the worm-like nanoparticles were 3.5 ± 0.14% and 65.6 ± 0.12%, respectively, while they were obtained as 2.1 ± 0.08% and 26 ± 0.10%, respectively, for spherical nanoparticles. The methotrexate diffusional behavior of worm-like nanoparticles was compared with that of the spherical ones. On the other hand, the anti-cancer activity of MTX-loaded nanoparticles was more than the free drug. The results of the MTT assay showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of cell (MCF-7 category) growth by the nanoparticles compared with MTX. The inhibitory concentrations (IC i.e. reduction viability of cell to 50%) obtained for worm-like, spherical nanoparticles and free drug (incubation times 72 h) were 8.25 ± 0.20, 9.15 ± 0.17, 12.28 ± 0.15 µg/mL, respectively. It can be concluded that application of non-spherical nanoparticles is a better and more effective strategy for controlled and slow release of methotrexate in the treatment of cancer.

Evaluation of UiO‐66 metal organic framework as an effective sorbent for Curcumin's overdose

“…The most varieties of nanoparticles have been synthesized, including polymeric nanoparticles (i.e. hydrogels), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), carbon nanotubes, metallic nanoparticles and metal organic framework (MOF) …”

In vitro and in vivo delivery of gliclazide loaded mPEG-PCL micelles and its kinetic release and solubility study

“…mPEG-PCL diblock copolymers was prepared using the method mentioned in our previous report [18,22,24,29]. It was synthesized by a ring opening polymerization of e-caprolactone with mPEG as initial moleculeusing Sn(Oct) 2 as catalyst.…”

“…Although encapsulated with the hydrophobic drug, the hydrophobic PCL segment joint with the drug forms the core and the hydrophilic PEG forms the shell of nanoparticles, the drug assembly is intravenously injected. Additionally, entrapment with hydrophobic drugs mPEG/PCL copolymers possibly will improve constancy and systemic distribution of drugs and release drugs at a sustained time in the finest variety of drug concentration [18,19]. Furthermore, mPEG/PCL copolymers are recyclable, biocompatible, and simple to construct, showing hopeful applications in drug-delivery systems [3,[20][21][22][23][24].…”

Green and one‐pot surface coating of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with natural amino acids and biocompatibility investigation

“…Surface charge is important in determining whether the nanoparticles will cluster in blood flow or will stick to or interact with oppositely charged cell membranes. The plasma and blood cells constantly have a negative charge; nanoparticles with slight negative surface charge can minimize nonspecific contact with these components through electrostatic interactions …”

“…The plasma and blood cells constantly have a negative charge; nanoparticles with slight negative surface charge can minimize nonspecific contact with these components through electrostatic interactions. [28][29][30][31][32]…”