Synthesis and in vitro study of cisplatin-loaded Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf> nanoparticles modified with PLGA-PEG<inf>6000</inf> copolymers in treatment of lung cancer

Abstract

In the field of cancer therapy, magnetic nanoparticles modified with biocompatible copolymers are promising vehicles for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as Cisplatin. The major aim of this effort was to evaluate whether Cisplatin-Encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles improved the anti-tumour effect of free Cisplatin in lung cancer cells. The PLGA-PEG triblock copolymer was synthesised by ring-opening polymerisation of D,L-lactide and glycolide with polyethylene glycol (PEG<inf>6000</inf>) as an initiator. The bulk properties of these copolymers were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation technique and were characterised for size, drug entrapment efficiency (%), drug content (% w/w), and surface morphology. In vitro release profile of cisplatin-loaded NP formulations was determined. Cytotoxic assays were evaluated in lung carcinoma (A549)-treated cells by the MTT assay technique. In addition, the particles were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The anti-proliferative effect of Cisplatin appeared much earlier when the drug was encapsulated in magnetic nanoparticles than when it was free. Cisplatin-Encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles significantly enhanced the decrease in IC50 rate. The in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that the Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf>-PLGA-PEG<inf>6000</inf> magnetic nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity and were biocompatible. The chemotherapeutic effect of free Cisplatin on lung cancer cells is improved by its encapsulation in modified magnetic nanoparticles. This approach has the prospective to overcome some major limitations of conventional chemotherapy and may be a promising strategy for future applications in lung cancer therapy. © 2014 Informa UK Ltd.