Evaluation of antiproliferative effect of doxorubicin loaded zinc selenium quantum dots to MCF-7 cell lines by linagliptin functionalized lignin nanoparticles

Abstract

In this research study, biocompatible linagliptin functionalized lignin (LL) nanomaterial is synthesized to deliver doxorubicin and zinc selenide quantum dots (ZnSe QDs). Afterward, doxorubicin and ZnSe QDs are loaded in LL to form LLQD-Doxo and analyzed its tumor cell proliferation. Drug carriers are characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and zeta potential. In vitro studies are performed at different temperatures, pH, time, and concentration. According to the results, maximum drug encapsulation efficiency is 78.91 %, and rapid drug release is observed at 45 °C and pH 6.5. Linagliptin attached to lignin acts as an inhibitor of xanthine-based non-peptidomimetic DPP-4, an antiproliferative cancer agent. LLQD-Doxo is released from lignin by diffusion at pH 6.5, which is favorable for the tumor microenvironment (TME). LLQD-Doxo exhibits significant therapeutic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and increased antioxidant activity for MCF-7 cells. The best anti-inflammatory and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity is 48.05 ± 1.05 % and 76.93 ± 2.03 %, respectively. LLQD-Doxo shows antioxidant activity due to lignin polyphenolic compounds in DPPH assay and free radical scavenging activity with IC = 64 μg/mL. Cytotoxicity assay also shows promising results, i.e., 82.32 ± 3.68 % of viable cells after treatment with LLQD-Doxo. The results depict that this drug carrier is suitable for drug delivery at acidic pH and high temperature conditions in tumor cells compared to normal cells.