Coordination bonding based pH-responsive albumin nanoparticles for anticancer drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Developing stable nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery is crucial in cancer therapy.
• Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles offer biocompatibility but often require modification for enhanced stability and drug loading.
• pH-responsive drug release systems are desirable for minimizing off-target effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize zinc-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (Zn-BSA) as a pH-responsive drug delivery system.
• To investigate the drug loading and release kinetics of Mitoxantrone (MX) from Zn-BSA nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of MX-loaded Zn-BSA nanoparticles against cancer cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of spherical Zn-BSA nanoparticles (50-60 nm) utilizing zinc coordination.
• Loading of Mitoxantrone (MX) onto Zn-BSA nanoparticles.
• In vitro drug release studies at different pH values (5.0 and 7.4).
• Cytotoxicity assays using MCF-7 cells to assess the efficacy of MX-Zn-BSA nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Zn-BSA nanoparticles demonstrated good stability and pH-responsive drug release.
• High cumulative release of MX (approx. 80%) was observed at pH 5.0 within 24 hours.
• Minimal MX release (less than 6%) occurred at pH 7.4.
• MX-Zn-BSA nanoparticles exhibited significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells, while blank nanoparticles showed low toxicity.

Conclusions:

• Zn-BSA nanoparticles serve as effective carriers for pH-responsive anticancer drug delivery.
• The zinc coordination enhances nanoparticle stability and enables controlled drug release based on pH changes.
• This system holds promise for targeted cancer therapy with improved drug efficacy and reduced side effects.