Docetaxel loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles; synthesis, characterization, and potential of nuclear imaging of prostate cancer

Abstract

In this study, docetaxel loaded nanoparticles were synthesized and labeled with 131I for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Docetaxel (DTX) was loaded onto human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA) with 50% efficiency. The size of DTX loaded nanoparticles (DTX-HSA) is in the range of 150–160 nm and these nanoparticles have a zeta potential of −27.2 mV. In in vitro drug release assay, 80% of DTX from loaded DTX-HSA nanoparticles was released at pH 7.4 medium, while 93% of DTX was released from DTX-HSA nanoparticles at pH 5.8 medium at the end of 48 h. The data show that HSA nanoparticles might be increasing in chemotherapy effect as a drug delivery system.DTX-HSA nanoparticles were labeled with 131I via iodogen method. Intracellular uptake experiments of 131I-DTX-HSA nanoparticles were done on prostate tumor cells (PC-3) and healthy prostate cells (RWPE-1) at 24 h. In conclusion, 131I-DTX-HSA appears as suitable agent that might be used in both nuclear imaging and radiotherapy of prostate cancer. In this study, the nuclear imaging potential of 131I-DTX-HSA was determined as in vitro. The results of this study are important to investigate this potential with in vivo studies in the future.