Abstract
The aim of this study was to prepare a novel targeting drug delivery system for 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) in order to improve the clinical application of this antitumor drug. It is based in nanoparticles (NPs) of titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and loaded with 2ME. A complete IR and Raman characterization have been made to confirm the formation of TiO2–PEG–2ME composite. Vibrational modes have been assigned for TiO2, PEG, and 2ME and functionalized TiO2–PEG and TiO2–PEG–2ME. The observed variation in peak position of FTIR and Raman of each for these composites has been elucidated in terms of intermolecular interactions between PEG–2ME and TiO2, obtaining step-by-step the modification processes that were attributed to the conjugation of PEG and 2ME to TiO2 NPs. Modifying TiO2 NPs with PEG loaded with the 2ME drug revealed that the titanium dioxide nanocarrier possesses an effective adsorption capability, and we discuss their potential application as a system of drug delivery.
Highlights
Due to the unique properties afforded by their size, nanoparticles (NPs) possess a wide range of applications in the industrial, electrical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and medical fields
The reagents used in the synthesis of the nanoparticles and in their organic modifications were titanium isopropoxide (TTIP; Aldrich, reagent grade, 99%), isopropanol, nitric acid (HNO3 ), distilled water, and hexadecyl trimethoxysilane (Mod-TiO2 ) (Aldrich, reagent grade, 98%) was used for the modification of TiO2 nanoparticles [24]
Using IR and Raman Spectra, it is possible to follow the modification processes attributed to the conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 2ME to synthesized TiO2 NPs step by step. 2ME has been considered a promising anticancer drug candidate due to its low toxicity and broad-spectrum anticancer activity; the clinical application of 2ME has been hampered by its low solubility, poor gastrointestinal absorption, shorter half-life, and low bioavailability [41]
Summary
Due to the unique properties afforded by their size, nanoparticles (NPs) possess a wide range of applications in the industrial, electrical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and medical fields. The anticancer drug is delivered to the cancer cells, reducing the toxicity to normal cells. Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) is considered to be a potential semiconductor for biocidal applications due to its photocatalytic properties, which explain its ability to destroy bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells [3,4]. In this context, TiO2 NPs have considerable potential in biomedicines, and a variety of works have been conducted to develop new antibacterial and drug delivery systems based on this nanoparticle [5,6,7,8]. TiO2 has been classified as a biologically inert substance in animals and humans [9,10], and it has good biocompatibility and no toxicity in vitro or in vivo [11]
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