Doxorubicin chitosan-coated ferrite nanoparticles ameliorate hepatic toxicity in Ehrlich solid tumor bearing mice

Malignant tumors, particularly breast malignancies, are leading causes of mortality worldwide due to abnormal cell growth and apoptosis dysregulation, with Ehrlich solid tumors being the most prevalent. This study was designated to study the curative role of load the anticancer drug Doxorubicin (DOX) into chitosan-coated ferrite nanoparticles (CT-MNPs) to form Ferrite/CT/DOX Nano-system against Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 80 female mice were randomly and equally divided into 8 groups (Control; Free Dox; CT-MNPs; DOX-CT-MNPs; EST; EST + Free Dox; EST + CT-MNPs; EST + Dox-CT-MNPs). Current results revealed that EST mice showed a significant elevation in the liver enzyme activities by 200%, thiobarbituric acid (TBAR), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase 3 immunoreactivities. In contrast, total protein, reduced glutathione level (GSH), catalase (CAT) and super oxide dismutase (SOD) activities were markedly reduced by 16.4%, 25.2%, 72.7%, 49%, and 53.15% respectively compared to control mice. Treatment with DOX in free form significantly raises liver oxidative damage, and apoptosis compared to EST untreated mice. Additionally, the treatment with DOX-CT- MNPs improves biochemical and histopathological alterations and decreases apoptosis by 32% compared to free DOX. In conclusion, the loading and encapsulation of DOX into chitosan-coated ferrite nanoparticles ameliorate and minimize the liver toxicity and damage caused by DOX as free form.