Search

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)/magnetite nanoparticles in various conditions. The nanoprecipitation conditions address the impact of the temperature on PNIPAM/magnetite nanoparticle features due to the thermosensitive character of PNIPAM. Hybrid nanoparticles with desired features (size, size distribution, agglomeration, and release profile) are prepared by nanoprecipitation in non-solvent (acetone) at various temperatures. These nanoparticles are targeted as nanocarriers to deliver doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. Therefore, three temperatures, below the LCST (lower critical solution temperature), around the LCST, and above the LCST, were chosen as the main parameters within nanoprecipitation. Besides temperature, another major parameter drives the nanoparticles' features: polymer solution concentration. In this regard, two variable parameters were used to study the characteristics of developed hybrid nanoparticles. After preparation, the hybrid nanoparticles were subjected to morphological and size distribution investigation by SEM and DLS. The doxorubicin loading and release measurements were also performed to reveal the behavior of the nanoparticles. Finally, the unloaded and loaded hybrid nanoparticles were biologically assessed within a cancer cells line (MCF7) in terms of biocompatibility, cancer cell viability, and cell morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to address the issue of poor bioavailability of most anti-tumor medicines against colorectal cancer, we developed a targeted anticancer nanocarrier using biocarriers able to both bind and easily release their load in a controlled manner. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) carriers were obtained via the emulsification-diffusion method, loaded with 5-fluorouracil and then characterized in terms of particle morphology and size (SEM, DLS), drug uptake and release. The cytotoxic potential of the 5-fluorouracil-loaded polymer nanocarriers on human adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29 cell line) was investigated. The in vitro studies clearly demonstrated that while the nanocarriers themselves slightly alter HT-29 cell viability, when loaded with 5-fluorouracil they significantly decrease cell viability, suggesting that the polymer itself exhibits low cytotoxicity and the drug-loaded carrier acts in an efficient manner to kill HT-29 human adenocarcinoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to address one of the major challenges of the actual era of nanomedicine namely, the bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs such as Silymarin. We developed new, biodegradable, and biocompatible nanosized shuttles for Silymarin targeted delivery in colon-cancer cells. The design of these 100 nm sized carrier nanoparticles was based on natural polymers and their biological properties such as cellular uptake potential, cytotoxicity and 3D penetrability were tested using a colon cancer cell line (HT-29) as the in vitro culture model. Comparative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements demonstrated that the Silymarin loaded Poly(3-HydroxyButyrate-co-3-HydroxyValerate) (PHBHV) nanocarriers significantly decreased HT-29 cells viability after 6 and 24 h of treatment. Moreover, in vivo-like toxicity studies on multicellular tumor spheroids showed that the Silymarin loaded PHBHV nanocarriers are able to penetrate 3D micro tumors and significantly reduce their size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]