Abstract
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely investigated as a strategy to improve the delivery efficiency of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Substituted iron oxides or ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) such as CoFe2O4 represent an interesting and novel class of MNPs, although they are under-researched in the field of biomedicine. In this study, chitosan-functionalized Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 NPs were loaded with the anti-cancer 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) drug to yield CS-Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4-5FU. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were employed to determine the physiochemical properties of the NPs. Physico-chemical characterizations confirmed spherical NPs with particle sizes of approximately 20.39 nm. Improved colloidal stability was observed, as determined by a zeta potential of approximately −20 mV for the drug-loaded CS-Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 NPs. Drug encapsulation efficiencies of >60% were attained, showing a pH-dependent release of 5-FU. Cell viabilities investigated using the 3-[(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) and sulforodhamine B (SRB) assays in human embryonic kidney (HEK293), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells showed that these drug-loaded NPs exhibited more targeted tumor-specific cytotoxicities compared to free drugs. CS-Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4-5-FU NPs displayed significant targeted delivery potential to the investigated cancer cell lines. Conclusively, these results suggest that the CS-Mg0.5Co0.5Fe2O4-5-FU NPs are promising therapeutic delivery systems in anti-cancer treatment.
Highlights
The efficient delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics with minimal toxicity in healthy organs or tissues remains an enormous challenge [1]
Mg0.5 Co0.5 Fe2 O4 NPs were coated with chitosan and characterized using various analytical techniques. They were investigated for the drug release potential of 5-FU, and cytotoxicities assays were performed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells
Nanocomposite morphologywas was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Summary
The efficient delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics with minimal toxicity in healthy organs or tissues remains an enormous challenge [1]. One of the main challenges in the application of magnetic NPs relates to their inherent propensity to aggregate, resulting in short-term stability when in biological suspensions. This is mainly the result of clearance by the macrophage system and subsequent reduced circulation time [7,8]. Mg0.5 Co0.5 Fe2 O4 NPs were coated with chitosan and characterized using various analytical techniques They were investigated for the drug release potential of 5-FU, and cytotoxicities assays were performed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells
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