Development of metformin-encapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Thyroid cancer is a prevalent endocrine malignancy.
• Conventional treatments have limitations and significant side effects.
• Nanoparticle drug delivery offers a promising alternative for cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize metformin-loaded PLGA-PEG nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these nanoparticles against FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells.
• To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying metformin's action in thyroid cancer.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PLGA-PEG-MET nanoparticles via double-emulsion method.
• Characterization using FT-IR, ZetaSizer, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry.
• Assessment of cell viability using colony formation assays and Western blot analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful encapsulation of metformin within PLGA-PEG nanoparticles confirmed.
• Both free metformin and nanoparticles significantly reduced thyroid cancer cell viability.
• Metformin treatment modulated mTOR, AMPK, and p-AMPK signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• PLGA-PEG-MET nanoparticles demonstrate potential as an effective therapeutic strategy for thyroid cancer.
• Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to optimize nanoparticle efficacy.
• Polymeric nanoparticle-based combination therapies may offer synergistic anticancer effects.