Novel cyclomatrix polyphosphazene nanospheres: preparation, characterization and dual anticancer drug release application

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to investigate in vitro pH-responsive, dual anticancer drug release from cyclomatrix polyphosphazene nanospheres for combination chemotherapy. For the first time, novel cyclomatrix polyphoshazene nanospheres that contain curcumin and quercetin were prepared by one-pot drug self-framed precipitation polymerization. Curcumin and quercetin were used both as monomers in synthesis of nanospheres and as released drugs. The nanospheres were characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, solid state 31P-NMR, BET, XRD, DLS and UV–vis techniques. It was determined that nanospheres contained 500 mg.g−1 drugs (DL%: 36% curcumin, 14% quercetin; EE%: 47.2% curcumin and 23% quercetin). The controlled release of drugs was investigated in lysosomal pH (pH:5.5) and blood pH (pH:7.4), at 37 °C, using dialysis membrane. Quercetin and curcumin were released from nanospheres at pH 7.4: 18.14%, 2.25%; pH 5.5: 10.12%, 1.02%, respectively, at 7 days. The release kinetic was determined to be Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model according to correlation coefficients, and the release mechanism was non-Fickian model for nanospheres.