Research Article

Characterization of Gemcitabine Loaded Polyhydroxybutyrate Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

Author(s):

Maryam Parsian*, Pelin Mutlu*, Serap Yalcin and Ufuk Gunduz   Pages 1233 - 1240 ( 8 )

Abstract:

Background: Targeted drug delivery is one of the recent hot topics in cancer therapy. Because of having a targeting potential under the magnetic field and a suitable surface for the attachment of different therapeutic moieties, magnetic nanoparticles are widely studied for their applications in medicine.

Objective: Gemcitabine loaded polyhydroxybutyrate coated magnetic nanoparticles (Gem-PHB-MNPs) were synthesized and characterized for the treatment of breast cancer by the targeted drug delivery method.

Methods: The characterization of nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR, XPS, TEM, and spectrophotometric analyses. The cytotoxicities of drug-free nanoparticles and Gemcitabine loaded nanoparticles were determined with cell proliferation assay using SKBR-3 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.

Results: The release of Gemcitabine from PHB-MNPs indicated a pH-dependent pattern, which is a desirable release characteristic, since the pH of the tumor microenvironment and endosomal structures are acidic, while bloodstream and healthy-tissues are neutral. Drug-free PHB-MNPs were not cytotoxic to the SKBR-3 and MCF- 7 cells, whereas the Gemcitabine loaded PHB-MNPs was about two-fold as cytotoxic with respect to free Gemcitabine. In vitro targeting ability of PHB-MNPs was shown under the magnetic field.

Conclusion: Considering these facts, we may suggest that these nanoparticles can be a promising candidate for the development of a novel targeted drug delivery system for breast cancer.

Keywords:

Polyhydroxybutyrate, magnetic nanoparticles, gemcitabine, breast cancer, SKBR-3, MCF-7, targeting drug delivery.

Affiliation:

Department of Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Central Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology R&D, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Department of Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara

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