Abstract
The release profiles of methotrexate, an anticancer drug, from the monoolein liquid crystalline cubic phases were studied. The cubic phases were used either in the form of a lipidic film deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode surface or in the dispersed form of magnetocubosomes, which are considered a prospective hybrid drug delivery system. Commonly, cubosomes or liposomes are employed, but not in the case of toxic methotrexate, known to block the receptors responsible for folate transport into the cells. The release profiles of the drug from the lipidic films were monitored electrochemically and described using the Higuchi model. They were also modified via changes in temperature; the release was faster, although it deviated from the model when the temperature was increased. Cubic phase nanoparticles (magnetocubosomes) containing hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles placed in an alternating magnetic field of low frequency and amplitude, stimulated drug release from the suspension, which was monitored spectroscopically. These new biocompatible hybrid nanomaterials in the dispersed form allow to control the release of the drug at the appropriate sites, can be easily separated or relocated under external magnetic field and await further investigations of their in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biodistribution.
Highlights
Methotrexate (MTX), known as amethopterin, is an antimetabolite of folic acid
We studied the physical and chemical properties of hybrid materials composed of lipidic cubic phase (LCP) bearing hydrophilic and hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles as a material for drug delivery where the outcome was promising [27]
This effect can be considered in terms of heat production by the interaction of alternating magnetic field (AMF) with tissue by its direct heating, induction heating of a material embedded within the tissue or both
Summary
Methotrexate (MTX), known as amethopterin, is an antimetabolite of folic acid. Its molecular structure differs from that of the folic acid (FA) in two ways. It is known that the use of external alternating magnetic field may adversely affect tissues, including normal tissue toxicity This effect can be considered in terms of heat production by the interaction of AMF with tissue by its direct heating, induction heating of a material embedded within the tissue (here—magnetic nanoparticles) or both. The MTX load and release studies were conducted for the monoolein cubic phase and cubosomes with and without hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles present in the lipidic part of the carrier. By taking advantage of the presence of hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles localized in the lipidic part of magnetocubosomes, we used an alternating magnetic field (AMF) with low frequency to stimulate the release of the drug from the carriers
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