5-Fluorouracil-loaded designed praseodymium oxide – poly- β-cyclodextrin nanorods for effectively inhibiting breast cancer cells

Abstract

Breast cancer remains one of the commonly prevailing and challenging diseases. Lanthanide-based nanomaterials are fascinating depending on their unique properties and represent a preferable choice of drug transport, aimed at finding an agent for targeted therapy. It necessitates that lanthanide-based nanocarriers with suitable surface modification and desired physicochemical characteristics are developed for effective anticancer drug delivery, owing to their fascinating light absorption, magnetic, and morphological features. Herein, we report praseodymium oxide nanorods in combination with poly-cyclodextrin as a novel nanocarrier to deliver the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil to breast cancer cells. The praseodymium oxide nanoparticles were prepared using a sonochemical method and characterized using routine analytical methods, including X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The monodisperse rod-shaped structures possess length and width of 200 ± 30 and 72 ± 10 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles are 64.33% crystalline, revealed by XRD. The polymer content in the nanoparticles is ∼37% by weight. Further, the nanoparticles' magnetic, light absorption and photoluminescence characteristics are studied. Low saturation magnetization and insignificant hysteresis properties are observed. Broad absorption and visible wavelength region photoluminescence arise from the praseodymium in the material. The continuous release of the drug cargo and the in vitro anticancer activity are discussed. The loaded drug (5-fluorouracil) is released sustainably, extending over 250 hours. The anticancer activity in vitro is observed with the portion of the drug released from the nanocarrier. The apoptotic action mode of the drug-carrier vehicle is analyzed. The inhibition of cells occurs mainly on the S-phase of the cell cycle. The nanomaterial can function as a drug carrier and is suitable for anticancer therapy. The results reported herein on praseodymium oxide nanoparticles are promising as a nanocarrier and pose the possibility of future in vivo studies.