Preparation and physicochemical evaluation of mesoporous silica loaded with curcumin-cisplatin nanoparticles

Abstract

Combination therapy or polytherapy is a combination method in which more than one treatment method is used to treat a disease. Now this treatment can be pharmacological or non-pharmacological. In recent years, combination therapy has achieved better results in oncology than monotherapy. Materials and Methods: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation method. Drug powders (curcumin and cisplatin) were dissolved separately in their appropriate solvent (ethanol) (5 wt%). The prepared nanoparticle powder was added to the drug solution. The resulting mixture was stirred gently (at low speeds of a magnetic stirrer) at room temperature for 24 hours in a dark environment. The prepared materials were evaluated by conventional methods in terms of physicochemical (particle size, morphology, crystalline state and surface charge). The release pattern of the drugs from the prepared nanoparticles was also measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Also, the surface area and porosity of nanoparticles were determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method and drawing isotherm diagrams of nitrogen gas adsorption and desorption. Descriptive statistics were used to express the data (mean ± standard deviation). Results: The results showed that the prepared nanoparticles with nanometer size, negative surface charge and rod morphology with mesoporous structure belonged to MCN-41 family. According to the results, the nanoparticles showed a relatively rapid release pattern in the first 5 days for both drugs. The release of the drug from the nanoparticles continued slowly until the 35 th day. This process was a bit slower for cisplatin. Regarding the results of adsorption and desorption isotherm analysis of BET test for drug-free mesoporous silica nanoparticles and drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles, specific surface area, pore volume, pore diameter and pore surface area with drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles dropped.

Conclusion: Proper use of cancer combination therapy can reduce costs, reduce treatment failure, and reduce side effects. It also reduces drug resistance and reduces disease recurrence. On the other hand, the use of herbal therapists in cancer combination therapy will show new horizons for cancer treatment. It is suggested that the prepared nanoparticles be evaluated extensively in different cellular, animal and finally clinical phases.