Abstract
Human serum albumin is the most abundant protein in plasma with the ability to bind to a variety of drug molecules. Magnetic nanoparticles are being extensively used in drug delivery due to its intrinsic magnetic properties. In this work, we have synthesized human serum albumin-coated citrate-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles by CDI coupling. Furthermore, folic acid was decorated on human serum albumin by EDC and NHS coupling to confer targetability. Two cytotoxic drugs 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and curcumin were co-delivered. Wherein, the former is an anticancer agent and latter is a drug resistance depressor of former. The nanoparticles showed good aqueous dispersibility with a zeta potential of − 49.1 mV and magnetic core size in the range of 10–15 nm, thus exhibiting good magnetic property with magnetic saturation of 33.59 emu/g. Controlled drug release behavior was noticed in both drugs with faster release profile of 5FU. Nanoparticles also showed good cytotoxicity with lower IC50 values in the presence of magnetic field. The contrasting difference was noticed in folic acid-decorated and non-decorated composites, similarly in the presence of magnetic field where cell uptake was enhanced.
Highlights
Despite the advancement in cancer treatment modalities, such as surgical intervention, radiation, and chemotherapeutic drugs, cancer yet remains one of the world’s most catastrophic diseases; with more than 10 million new cases every year (Hamzehalipour Almaki et al 2017)
The growth of nanotechnology has unfolded a new paradigm of possibilities in the development of medical sciences like drug delivery field, leading to the development of new drug carrier composites in the nanometer size (Lohcharoenkal et al 2014; Roco 2011)
Oleic acid and sodium citrate were purchased from TCI chemicals. 5-Fluorouracil and curcumin were purchased from MOLchem
Summary
Despite the advancement in cancer treatment modalities, such as surgical intervention, radiation, and chemotherapeutic drugs, cancer yet remains one of the world’s most catastrophic diseases; with more than 10 million new cases every year (Hamzehalipour Almaki et al 2017). The growth of nanotechnology has unfolded a new paradigm of possibilities in the development of medical sciences like drug delivery field, leading to the development of new drug carrier composites in the nanometer size (Lohcharoenkal et al 2014; Roco 2011). Nanoparticles, comprising active pharmaceutical ingredients with biocompatible materials in nanometer size, have shown enhanced anticancer property, improved pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and active intracellular delivery (Lomis et al 2016). Nanoparticles (NPs) are being developed as drug carriers. Thanks to careful nanostructure construction (tailored drug release characteristics, low immunogenicity, etc.), yielding improved treatment efficacy and reduction of unwanted side effects (Veiseh et al 2010)
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