Development of iron(II) sulfate nanoparticles produced by hot-melt extrusion and their therapeutic potentials for colon cancer

Abstract

Particle size reduction of FeSO₄ (iron(II) sulfate, IS) from micron to nano size was achieved by a combination of hot-melt extrusion (HME) processing and the input of Span 80, Tween 80, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 6000. Conveying, kneading, and extruding steps of the HME process and a decrease in the surface tension by surfactants were introduced to produce FeSO₄ nanoparticles (NPs) in an aqueous environment. The FeSO₄-based NPs (ISNPs) in the dispersion were composed of FeSO₄, Span 80, Tween 80, and PEG 6000 and displayed a hydrodynamic size of 350-400 nm (5-50 mg/mL ISNPs concentration range) and a spherical shape. Considering the feeding ratio of FeSO₄ (20%, w/w) used for preparing the ISNPs, FeSO₄ appears to be wrapped by Span 80, Tween 80, and PEG 6000 according to the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. ISNPs exhibited different thermodynamic properties from those of FeSO₄ itself. In colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells, the ISNPs group exhibited enhanced antiproliferation and apoptosis potentials compared to the FeSO₄ group (p < 0.05). Histological staining data of a dissected intestine after oral administration of ISNPs suggest the absence of severe intestinal toxicities compared to the control (no treatment) group. All of these results imply the feasibility of the use of the developed ISNPs for the treatment of colon cancers with oral administration.

Keywords: Antiproliferation; Apoptosis; Caco-2 cell; Hot-melt extrusion; Iron(II) sulfate; Nanoparticle.