pH-sensitive Laponite(®)/doxorubicin/alginate nanohybrids with improved anticancer efficacy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Anticancer drug efficacy, like doxorubicin (Dox), is often limited by poor cellular uptake and drug resistance.
• Acidic tumor microenvironments and endolysosomes contribute to ion trapping, reducing drug effectiveness.
• Novel drug delivery systems are needed to overcome these challenges and improve therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel nanohybrid system for enhanced delivery of cationic anticancer drugs.
• To investigate the potential of Laponite®/alginate nanohybrids for improved cellular uptake and targeted drug release.
• To assess the in vitro cytotoxicity and drug release characteristics of the developed nanohybrids.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of doxorubicin-loaded Laponite® nanodisks coated with alginate (LP/Dox/AG nanohybrids).
• Characterization of nanohybrid properties including encapsulation efficiency, pH sensitivity, and drug release kinetics.
• In vitro evaluation of nanohybrid internalization and cytotoxicity in CAL-72 osteosarcoma cells.

Main Results:

• The LP/Dox/AG nanohybrids demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (80.8 ± 10.6%) for doxorubicin.
• Nanohybrids exhibited pH-sensitive and sustained drug release behavior, crucial for targeted delivery.
• Effective internalization by CAL-72 cells and significantly higher cytotoxicity compared to free doxorubicin were observed.

Conclusions:

• Laponite®/alginate nanohybrids represent a promising platform for delivering cationic chemotherapeutic drugs.
• These nanohybrids offer biocompatibility, high loading capacity, and stimulus-responsive drug release.
• The developed system effectively overcomes limitations of traditional doxorubicin delivery, enhancing anticancer activity.