Core-Shell Silver/Polymeric Nanoparticles-Based Combinatorial Therapy against Breast Cancer In-vitro
Nancy M Elbaz1,2, Laila Ziko1,3, Rania Siam1,3
1Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center (YJSTRC), School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
Scientific Reports
|August 6, 2016
Summary
This study developed novel silver/polymeric nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin for breast cancer treatment. The core-shell nanocarriers showed enhanced cytotoxic effects against cancer cells, with Ag/PVP being the most effective.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial for cancer therapy.
- Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polymeric nanoparticles offer potential for drug encapsulation and targeted delivery.
- Combinatorial approaches using nanoparticles and chemotherapeutics can enhance treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize silver/polymeric core-shell nanoparticles.
- To load these nanoparticles with doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic agent.
- To evaluate the in-vitro cytotoxic effects of DOX-loaded nanoparticles against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal fibroblasts (1BR hTERT).
Main Methods:
- Preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and core-shell nanoparticles with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) shells.
- Loading of doxorubicin (DOX) onto the prepared nanocarriers.
- In-vitro cytotoxicity assays using MCF-7 and 1BR hTERT cell lines.
Main Results:
- Silver/polymeric nanoparticles (Ag/PVA, Ag/PVP) demonstrated higher cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells compared to normal fibroblasts.
- DOX-loaded nanocarriers (DOX-Ag, DOX-Ag/PVA, DOX-Ag/PEG, DOX-Ag/PVP) exhibited enhanced cytotoxic effects.
- Low-dose core-shell DOX-loaded nanocarriers showed synergistic anticancer activity, with DOX-Ag/PVP being the most potent.
Conclusions:
- The developed Ag/polymeric NPs-based combinatorial therapy significantly enhances cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells.
- DOX-Ag/PVP nanocarriers represent a promising candidate for novel and effective cancer therapeutics.
- Further research into nanoparticle-based combinatorial therapies could lead to improved cancer treatment strategies.
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