Nanostructured pH-responsive biocompatible chitosan coated copper oxide nanoparticles: A polymeric smart intracellular delivery system for doxorubicin in breast cancer cells

Abstract

In this study, we report a novel feasible single step reduction method for the active synthesis of biocompatible chitosan coated copper oxide nanoparticles (Cs-CuO NPs), for loading and delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) into breast cancer cells. The formulated nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by size, shape and surface charge using various sophisticated instruments. Interestingly, these formulated particles showed profound drug loading activity and also showed its versatile nature of DOX release at different pH which makes them as ideal particles for breast cancer therapy. Intracellular uptake was evaluated through fluorescence microscopy studies with the help of coumarin. Morphological and apoptotic studies with the DOX-Cs-CuO NPs on MCF-7 cells showed its ability to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells, which was clearly substantiated by ROS generation with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results clearly showed the therapeutic nature of novel biocompatible Cs-CuO NPs in delivering DOX with a pH-dependent manner. Keywords: Copper oxide nanoparticles, Chitosan, Apoptosis. Breast cancer, Drug delivery