Elegant pH-Responsive Nanovehicle for Drug Delivery Based on Triazine Dendrimer Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles

Langmuir. 2017 Aug 29;33(34):8503-8515. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00742. Epub 2017 Aug 15.

Abstract

Owing to properties of magnetic nanoparticles and elegant three-dimensional macromolecule architectural features, dendrimeric structures have been investigated as nanoscale drug delivery systems. In this work, a novel magnetic nanocarrier, generation two (G2) triazine dendrimer modified Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (MNP-G2), was designed, fabricated, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The prepared MNP-G2 nanosystem offers a new formulation that combines the unique properties of MNPs and triazine dendrimer as a biocompatible material for biomedical applications. To demonstrate the potential of MNP-G2, the nanoparticles were loaded with methotrexate (MTX), a proven chemotherapy drug. The MTX-loaded MNP-G2 (MNP-G2/MTX) exhibited a high drug-loading capacity of MTX and the excellent ability for controlled drug release. The cytotoxicity of MNP-G2/MTX using an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide based assay and MCF-7, HeLa, and Caov-4 cell lines revealed that MNP-G2/MTX was more active against the tumor cells than the free drug in a mildly acidic environment. The results of hemolysis, hemagglutination, and coagulation assays confirmed the good blood safety of MNP-G2/MTX. Moreover, the cell uptake and intracellular distribution of MNP-G2/MTX were studied by flow cytometry analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). This research suggests that MNP-G2/MTX with good biocompatibility and degradability can be selected as an ideal and effective drug carrier in targeted biomedicine studies especially anticancer applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dendrimers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles*
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Triazines

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Triazines
  • Silicon Dioxide