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Smart pH responsive drug delivery system based on poly(HEMA-co-DMAEMA) nanohydrogel
Amir Roointan1, Javad Farzanfar2, Soliman Mohammadi-Samani3
1Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|October 7, 2018
Summary
Smart pH-responsive nanohydrogels were developed for targeted anti-cancer drug delivery. These biocompatible nanoparticles efficiently loaded and released doxorubicin in acidic tumor environments, enhancing cancer cell death while maintaining safety.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Smart nanohydrogels offer potential for targeted cancer therapy.
- Developing safe and efficient drug delivery vehicles is crucial for anti-cancer treatments.
- pH-responsive materials can improve drug release at tumor sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize pH-responsive nanohydrogels for doxorubicin delivery.
- To evaluate the drug release profile under different pH conditions.
- To assess the in vitro efficacy and safety of the nanocarrier system.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate nanohydrogels via RAFT polymerization.
- Characterization using FTIR, 1H NMR, DLS, and TEM.
- Drug loading with doxorubicin and in vitro release studies at pH 5.5 and 7.4.
- In vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, cellular uptake, and hemolysis assays on MCF-7 cells.
Main Results:
- Synthesized nanohydrogels exhibited pH-responsive swelling, with sizes changing from 180 nm at pH 7.4 to 400 nm at pH 5.5.
- Doxorubicin release was significantly higher at acidic pH (80% at pH 5.5) compared to neutral pH (20% at pH 7.4).
- Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles demonstrated time-dependent cellular uptake, enhanced cytotoxicity, and apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells, with confirmed hemocompatibility.
Conclusions:
- The developed pH-responsive nanohydrogels are suitable for targeted anti-cancer drug delivery.
- The nanocarrier system shows promise for efficient doxorubicin delivery to tumor sites.
- The hemocompatibility and efficacy against cancer cells highlight its potential as an ideal anti-cancer therapeutic vehicle.
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