Abstract
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with ordered pore structure have been synthesized and used as carriers for the anticancer drug curcumin. MSNs were functionalized with amine groups and further attached with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) coupling chemistry, which increased the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of MSNs. The functionalized MSNs (MSN-NH2 and MSN-CMC) were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), N2 adsorption, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The in vitro release of curcumin from the –NH2 and CMC functionalized MSNs (MSN-cur-NH2 and MSN-cur-CMC) was performed in 0.5% aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). The effect of CMC functionalization of MSNs towards cellular uptake was studied in the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and was compared with that of MSN-NH2 and free curcumin (cur). Both MSN-NH2 and MSN-CMC showed good biocompatibility with the breast cancer cell line. The MTT assay study revealed that curcumin-loaded MSN-cur-CMC showed better uptake as compared to curcumin-loaded MSN-cur-NH2. Free curcumin was used as a control and was shown to have much less internalization as compared to the curcumin-loaded functionalized MSNs due to poor bioavailability. Fluorescence microscopy was used to localize the fluorescent drug curcumin inside the cells. The work demonstrates that CMC-functionalized MSNs can be used as potential carriers for loading and release of hydrophobic drugs that otherwise cannot be used effectively in their free form for cancer therapy.
Highlights
Cancer has become a major concern worldwide as most of the drugs effective in its treatment are hydrophobic in nature and have less bioavailability at the required site
Other potential polysaccharides like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carboxymethyl tamarind (CMT) and guar gum (GG) in combination with Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are yet to be fully explored for drug delivery applications
The results indicate that MSN-NH2 and MSN-CMC are highly highly biocompatible with the cancer cell line used
Summary
Cancer has become a major concern worldwide as most of the drugs effective in its treatment are hydrophobic in nature and have less bioavailability at the required site. Well-established theory postulates that MSNs tend to accumulate at the cancer site more effectively as compared to normal cells [21,22] Both the outer surface and the pores of MSNs can be selectively functionalized with organic moieties to enhance their biocompatibility and increased circulation time in blood [23]. Other potential polysaccharides like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carboxymethyl tamarind (CMT) and guar gum (GG) in combination with MSNs are yet to be fully explored for drug delivery applications. Another advantage of the polysaccharides is their degradability by enzymes, by which they can be coated onto drug loaded MSNs and the drug can be released by polysaccharide degradation.
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