Paclitaxel conjugated Fe3O4@LaF3:Ce3+,Tb3+ nanoparticles as bifunctional targeting carriers for Cancer theranostics application

Abstract

The bi-functional Chitosan functionalized magnetite doped luminescent rare earth nanoparticles (Fe3O4@LaF3: Ce3+,Tb3+/chi NPs) as a carrier of paclitaxel (PTX) drug was designed using a co-precipitation and facile direct precipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles are spherical in shape with a typical diameter of 19–37nm respectively. They are water soluble, super paramagnetic and biocompatible, in which the amino groups on the nanoparticles surface are used for the conjugation with an anticancer drug, paclitaxel. The nature of PTX binding with Fe3O4@LaF3: Ce3+,Tb3+/chi nanoparticles were studied using X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer and scanning electron micrograph. The nature of interactions between PTX and Fe3O4@LaF3: Ce3+,Tb3+/chi NPs due to complex formation were conceded out by various spectroscopic methods viz., UV–visible, steady state and excited state fluorescence spectroscopy. The photo-physical characterization reveals that the adsorption and release of PTX from Fe3O4@LaF3:Tb3+/chi nanoparticles is quicker when compared with other nanoparticles and also confirms that this may be due to the hydrogen bond formation between the hydroxyl group of drug and amino group of nanoparticles respectively. The maximum loading capacity and entrapment efficiency of 83.69% and 80.51% were attained at a ratio of 5:8 of PTX and Fe3O4@LaF3: Ce3+,Tb3+/chi NPs respectively. In addition with that, antitumoral activity study of PTX conjugated Fe3O4@LaF3:Tb3+/chi nanoparticles exhibits increased cytotoxic effects on A549 lung cancer cell lines than that of unconjugated PTX.