In Silico and In Vitro Profiling of Honokiol and Paclitaxel-Loaded PBM Nanoparticles for Targeted Breast Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Paclitaxel (PTX) and honokiol (HNK) are potent anti-cancer agents.
• Breast cancer (BrCa) often overexpresses the MUC1 protein.
• Targeted drug delivery systems can improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop MUC1-targeted nanoparticles encapsulating PTX and HNK for enhanced BrCa treatment.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties and in vitro efficacy of the targeted nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized aptamer-conjugated PTX and HNK nanoparticles (PTX-S2.2-PBM NPs, HNK-S2.2-PBM NPs) using planetary ball-milling.
• Characterized nanoparticles using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
• Assessed MUC1 expression in BrCa tissues via tissue microarray (TMA) and evaluated nanoparticle cytotoxicity using MTT and live/dead cell assays.

Main Results:

• MUC1 expression was confirmed to be upregulated in BrCa tissues, increasing with cancer stage.
• The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited suitable size and zeta potential for systemic circulation.
• Successful aptamer conjugation and high encapsulation efficiencies (77% for PTX, 84% for HNK) were achieved.
• Targeted nanoparticles demonstrated comparable or superior cytotoxicity to free drugs.

Conclusions:

• MUC1-targeted PTX and HNK nanoparticles represent a promising strategy for breast cancer therapy.
• The developed nanoparticles show potential for improved drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes in BrCa treatment.