Tween 80-sodium deoxycholate mixed micelles: structural characterization and application in doxorubicin delivery

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Biocompatible surfactants like Tween 80 (nonionic) and sodium deoxycholate (anionic) are crucial for drug delivery systems.
• Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), a cationic anticancer drug, requires effective delivery vehicles to improve therapeutic outcomes.
• Understanding mixed micelle formation and drug-binding is essential for developing advanced nanocarriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize anionic mixed micelles using Tween 80 and sodium deoxycholate.
• To evaluate the potential of these mixed micelles for delivering doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX).
• To investigate the influence of electrolytes on micelle structure and drug-binding.

Main Methods:

• Dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) for microstructure and intermicellar interactions.
• Viscosity and optical absorption measurements for doxorubicin binding.
• In vitro cytotoxicity studies on various cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

• Mixed micelles exhibited salt-induced structural changes influenced by electrostatic and steric interactions.
• Sodium deoxycholate addition altered micelle shape from prolate ellipsoidal to spherical.
• Successful binding of anionic sodium deoxycholate to cationic doxorubicin was confirmed.
• DOX-loaded micelles demonstrated enhanced in vitro anticancer activity compared to free DOX solution.

Conclusions:

• Anionic mixed micelles of Tween 80 and sodium deoxycholate are suitable for doxorubicin hydrochloride delivery.
• The developed micelles show improved in vitro anticancer efficacy, highlighting their pharmaceutical potential.
• These findings support the use of mixed micelles as effective nanocarriers for cationic drugs.