In vitro study and characterization of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles modified with biodegradable copolymers.

Magnetic nanoparticles are a main class of nanoscale materials with the potential to revolutionize present clinical therapeutic and diagnostic techniques. Functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with copolymers, different surfactants, or other organic compounds is usually done in order to achieve better physicochemical properties. Poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymers have been extensively used as biodegradable carriers for drug delivery. These biodegradable aliphatic polyesters, with proven biocompatibility, have versatile biodegradation properties, depending on their molecular weight and chemical composition. The aim of the present work was to assess the merits of Fe3 O4-PLGA-PEG nanoparticles as anticancer drug carriers. For this purpose, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were first prepared, and then the copolymer PLGA-PEG was synthesized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) of various molecular weights. The copolymer was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Doxorubicin was encapsulated within nanoparticles made of Fe3O4-PLGA-PEG, using the double emulsion method (w/o/w). The nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, and the in vitro release of doxorubicin.

Novel drug delivery system based on doxorubicin-encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles modified with PLGA-PEG1000 copolymer.

New drug delivery systems delivered the active molecules to the target site in a definite manner to produce the desired effects without disturbing the delicate bio-environment. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by chemical precipitation of Fe salts in the ratio of 1:2 under alkaline and inert condition. PLGA-PEG1000 triblock copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The properties of this copolymer were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the resulting particles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The in vitro doxorubicin (DOX) release profiles were obtained by representing the percentage of DOX release. In this report, we used this new method to fabricate PEGylated PLGA particles, and examined the anticancer agent DOX.

Synthesis and in vitro study of cisplatin-loaded Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with PLGA-PEG6000 copolymers in treatment of lung cancer.

In the field of cancer therapy, magnetic nanoparticles modified with biocompatible copolymers are promising vehicles for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as Cisplatin. The major aim of this effort was to evaluate whether Cisplatin-Encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles improved the anti-tumour effect of free Cisplatin in lung cancer cells. The PLGA-PEG triblock copolymer was synthesised by ring-opening polymerisation of d,l-lactide and glycolide with polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) as an initiator. The bulk properties of these copolymers were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation technique and were characterised for size, drug entrapment efficiency (%), drug content (% w/w), and surface morphology. In vitro release profile of cisplatin-loaded NP formulations was determined. Cytotoxic assays were evaluated in lung carcinoma (A549)-treated cells by the MTT assay technique. In addition, the particles were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The anti-proliferative effect of Cisplatin appeared much earlier when the drug was encapsulated in magnetic nanoparticles than when it was free. Cisplatin-Encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles significantly enhanced the decrease in IC50 rate. The in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that the Fe3O4-PLGA-PEG6000 magnetic nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity and were biocompatible. The chemotherapeutic effect of free Cisplatin on lung cancer cells is improved by its encapsulation in modified magnetic nanoparticles. This approach has the prospective to overcome some major limitations of conventional chemotherapy and may be a promising strategy for future applications in lung cancer therapy.

Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro studies of PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery.

Therapeutic proteins and peptides are corresponding to a major area of research in biotechnology companies and current pharmaceutical. Because of their natural instability, the enormous majority of these drugs require parentéral administration. Oral insulin delivery would be a highly attractive alternative process of administration, though it continues to be a mysterious target due to the enzymatic digestion of insulin and low levels of absorption from the gastrointestinal region. Hydrogel polymers can be considered as potential carriers for oral insulin delivery. In particular, a pH responsive hydrogel composed of PLGA-PEG has shown the ability to protect insulin from enzymes in the gastric environment and release in small intestines. However, this material has not shown similar potential for oral protein delivery of further model drugs. To date, the unique interaction between PLGA-PEG and insulin, as a potential drug for oral delivery, is not completely understood. The focus of this research is synthetization and characterization of hydrogels PLGA-PEG insulin nanoparticles and also pH sensitivity of insulin nanoparticles was investigated.

Physicochemical characteristics of Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites based on Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) for anti-cancer drug delivery.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogels are a class of polymers that can absorb water or biological fluids and swell to several times their dry volume, dependent on changes in the external environment. In recent years, hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites have found a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery and cancer treatment. The incorporation of nanoparticulates into a hydrogel matrix can result in unique material characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, swelling response, and capability of remote controlled actuation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this work, synthesis of hydrogel nanocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles are studied. At first, magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) with an average size 10 nm were prepared. At second approach, thermo and pH-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide -co-methacrylic acid-co-vinyl pyrrolidone) (NIPAAm-MAA- VP) were prepared. Swelling behavior of co-polymer was studied in buffer solutions with different pH values (pH=5.8, pH=7.4) at 37 °C. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and doxorubicin were incorporated into copolymer and drug loading was studied. The release of drug, carried out at different pH and temperatures. Finally, chemical composition, magnetic properties and morphology of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites were analyzed by FT- IR, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The results indicated that drug loading efficiency was increased by increasing the drug ratio to polymer. Doxorubicin was released more at 40 °C and in acidic pH compared to that 37 °C and basic pH. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the poly (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) magnetic hydrogel nanocomposite could be an effective carrier for targeting drug delivery systems of anti-cancer drugs due to its temperature sensitive properties.