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Published on: June 23, 2020
Optically traceable PLGA-silica nanoparticles for cell-triggered doxorubicin delivery
Ritu Raj1, Sandra N Pinto2, Carina I C Crucho2
1Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Life Science, Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Ecology (LEnME), National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela 769 008, Odisha, India.
Fluorescent silica nanoparticles deliver anticancer drugs intracellularly. These nanoparticles protect the drug during transit and release it only inside cancer cells, showing potent efficacy comparable to free drugs.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Controlled drug delivery systems are crucial for cancer therapy.
- Nanoparticles offer potential for targeted drug delivery and reduced systemic toxicity.
- Developing stimuli-responsive drug release mechanisms is key for intracellular drug action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop fluorescently traceable, core-shell nanoparticles for intracellular drug delivery.
- To investigate the triggered release of doxorubicin (DOX) from silica-poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles within cancer cells.
- To evaluate the efficacy of nanoparticle-delivered DOX in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7).
Main Methods:
- Synthesized silica nanoparticles doped with perylenediimide (PDI) fluorescent dye.
- Grew poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) shells via surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization (ROP).
- Loaded nanoparticles with doxorubicin (DOX) and evaluated release in solution (PBS) and MCF-7 cells.
Main Results:
- Hybrid silica-PLGA nanoparticles effectively loaded and encapsulated DOX.
- Negligible DOX release observed in solution (pH 7.4) for up to 72 hours.
- Intracellular degradation of PLGA triggered significant DOX release within MCF-7 cells.
- DOX-loaded nanoparticles demonstrated comparable anticancer potency to free DOX, inducing apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Fluorescent silica-PLGA nanoparticles provide traceable, cell-triggered delivery of doxorubicin.
- The system protects the drug cargo during transit and ensures intracellular release.
- These nanoparticles show significant promise for controlled anticancer drug delivery with enhanced therapeutic potential.
