1. Potentiation of Folate-Functionalized PLGA-PEG nanoparticles loaded with metformin for the treatment of breast Cancer: possible clinical application.
- Author
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Jafari-Gharabaghlou D, Dadashpour M, Khanghah OJ, Salmani-Javan E, and Zarghami N
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Cell Line, Tumor, Folic Acid pharmacology, Polyethylene Glycols chemistry, Drug Carriers chemistry, Breast Neoplasms drug therapy, Breast Neoplasms metabolism, Metformin therapeutic use, Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use, Nanoparticles chemistry
- Abstract
Aim: Folate receptor expression increase up to 30% in breast cancer cells and could be used as a possible ligand to couple to folate-functionalized nanoparticles. Metformin (Met) is an anti-hyperglycemic agent whose anti-cancer properties have been formerly reported. Consequently, in the current study, we aimed to synthesize and characterize folate-functionalized PLGA-PEG NPs loaded with Met and evaluate the anti-cancer effect against the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line., Methods: FA-PLGA-PEG NPs were synthesized by employing the W1/O/W2 technique and their physicochemical features were evaluated by FE-SEM, TEM, FTIR, and DLS methods. The cytotoxic effects of free and Nano-encapsulated drugs were analyzed by the MTT technique. Furthermore, RT-PCR technique was employed to assess the expression levels of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes., Result: MTT result indicated Met-loaded FA-PLGA-PEG NPs exhibited cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependently manner and had more cytotoxic effects relative to other groups. The remarkable down-regulation (hTERT and Bcl-2) and up-regulation (Caspase7, Caspase3, Bax, and p53) gene expression were shown in treated MDA-MB-231 cells with Met-loaded FA-PLGA-PEG NPs., Conclusion: Folate-Functionalized PLGA-PEG Nanoparticles are suggested as an appropriate approach to elevate the anticancer properties of Met for improving the treatment effectiveness of breast cancer cells., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)
- Published
- 2023
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