PH-responsive, magnetic-luminescent core/shell carriers for co-delivery of anticancer drugs (MTX & DOX) for breast cancer treatment

Abstract

In a novel approach, CoFe2O4/mSiO2-NH2/Poly(MAA-co-IA)/MF3 as a core/double shells (CDS) magnetic-luminescent nanomaterial is reported and it was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, VSM, BET, TEM and FT-IR techniques. Analyses exhibited that the diameter of core/double shells was about 35 nm with surface area and pore diameter of 220 m2.g−1 & 2.44 nm, respectively. The nanocomposite was used as a nanocarrier for methotrexate (MTX) and doxorubicin (DOX), simultaneously, as anti-cancer drugs, against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Two drugs were successfully loaded 51 (MTX) and 75 % (DOX) within the nanocomposite. The nanocarrier was designed to be sensitive to pH and it demonstrated a controlled drug release that can be able to distinguish between normal and cancer tissues. The biocompatibility studies of the nanocarrier showed very low cytotoxicity against Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Also, the in vitro cytotoxic studies against MCF-7 cells of the MTX@DOX-NPs demonstrated a noticeable tumor inhibition compared with the free forms of drugs. Based on the results, the magnetic-luminescent nanocomposites have an excellent potential for simultaneous delivery of two drugs and can provide promising prospects in cancer therapy.