Chitosan-Modified Silver Nanoparticles Enhance Cisplatin Activity in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cancer therapy has been hindered by treatments lacking sensitivity, specificity, and affordability. The side effects of conventional chemotherapy enforce the need for a treatment strategy that would maximize the anti-cancer activity of the drug while minimizing its’ adverse effects on healthy cells. Nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers for anti-cancer drugs have attracted interest due to their favorable properties, which include the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Silver NPs (AgNPs) have been explored as nanocarriers owing to their good conductivity, chemical stability, and therapeutic potential. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized, functionalized with chitosan (CS), and loaded with the anti-cancer drug cisplatin (CIS). Successful conjugation, size distribution, and morphology of the NPs were assessed by UV-vis and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, NP tracking analysis (NTA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The encapsulated CIS (>80%) was efficiently and rapidly released from the nanocomplex at low pH, favoring delivery to a tumor micro-environment. Cytotoxicity profiles of the CS-AgNP-CIS nanocomplexes exhibited significant cell death in the human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and SKBR-3. They were more effective than the free drug, exhibiting >50% cell death. Our results demonstrate a potentially efficient anti-cancer drug delivery system with selectivity to breast cancer cells.