Background/aim: Due to its abilities of substance adsorption and intracellular transportation, hydroxyapatite is a potential carrier in drug delivery systems (DDS). This in vitro study investigated whether newly-developed, highly-dispersive calcined hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with an average grain diameter of 20 nm (nano-SHAP) were suitable as a DDS for the drugs zoledronic acid (ZA), cisplatin, and carboplatin.
Material and methods: The effects of drug-bearing nano-SHAP on cell proliferation were assessed using three human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-4, KOSC, and SAS) and one human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).
Results: Nano-SHAP alone did not affect proliferation of any cell line until a concentration of 1 μg/ml was reached. Although the effective concentration of ZA in ZA-bearing nano-SHAP differed, it inhibited cell proliferation better than ZA alone. Cisplatin and carboplatin-bearing nano-SHAP had the same effect as these drugs alone.
Conclusion: The nano-SHAP system is of potential use as a drug delivery system.
Keywords: Hydroxyapatite nanoparticle; bisphosphonate; drug delivery system; oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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