Abstract
A new system composed of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with methotrexate (MTX-CS-NPs) and functionalized with photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) was prepared. This system is expected to initiate polymeric rupture of MTX-CS-NPs and subsequently release MTX, upon illumination with UV light. MTX-CS-NPs were prepared and characterized in terms of particle size, charge, polydispersity and drug release before and after coating with TiO2-NPs. The release of MTX in vitro was studied in dark, light and UV light. Finally, coated and uncoated MTX-CS-NPs were studied in vitro using MCF-7 cell line. The functionalized NPs were larger in size, more polydisperse and carried higher positive charges compared to the unfunctionalized NPs. The entrapment efficacy was high reaching 75% and was not affected by coating with MTX-CS-NPs. Further, less than 5% of methotrexate was released after 80 h from uncoated NPs and the release was not enhanced by UV illumination of the particles. In contrast, the release from functionalized NPs was enhanced, reaching 40% after 80 h, as the particles were stroked with UV light and as the amount of TiO2-NPs used in coating increased. Finally, coating the MTX-CS-NPs with TiO2-NPs significantly enhanced their cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells. The coated MTX-CS-NPs recorded low cell viabilities compared to the other formulations. In conclusion, the drug release of MTX-CS-NPs could be triggered and controlled remotely by coating with TiO2-NPs, which maybe more effective in cancer treatment.
Highlights
IntroductionNote: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Accepted: 21 January 2022Published: 26 January 2022 Publisher’sNote: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of carcinogenic tissues, it was reported that polymeric nanoparticle in a range of 100–400 nm are suitable to be used in targeting carcinogenic tissues [27]
Summary
Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. A triggerable drug delivery system should allow timing-control of the therapeutic effect This on-demand drug release from nanoparticles maximize tumor killing and minimize metastatic spread [11,12]. There are a significant number of photocontrolled release systems that are based on noncovalently assembled polymeric systems or on cyto-incompatible shortwave UV light [17,18,19] One of these materials is titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs). TiO2-NPs were used to trigger the drug release from MTX-CS-NPs upon the use of UV light. In this system, TiO2NPs are used to initiate the rupture of the polymeric bonds of CS NPs, when exposed to light. A new formulation of MTX loaded in chitosan nanoparticles and coated with TiO2-NPs was prepared. In this work we expect that combining TiO2-NPs with MTX-CS-NPs may be more effective for cancer treatment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
