Facile fabrication of TPGS-PCL polymeric nanoparticles for paclitaxel delivery to breast cancer: investigation of antiproliferation and apoptosis induction

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most devastating cancers that have no cure. Many therapeutic and diagnostic strategies have been extensively studied in the past decade. Cancer nanotechnology has developed as a promising approach in preclinical examinations, allowing for the early exposure of primary tumors and metastases and the efficient destruction of cancer cells. The current study aims to fabricate and analyze polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy established on a copolymeric block of α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000-b-polycaprolactone (TPGS-b-PCL) incorporating paclitaxel (PTX) (termed as T-b-P@PTX). Characterization of the physical, chemical, and structural properties and the in vitro biological activity of TPGS-b-PCL (T-b-P@PTX) obtained by the nanoprecipitation method. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was explored by MTT assay using MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a time-dependent manner. The IC50 values T-b-P@PTX for MCF-7 cells 543.7 ± 2.58, 130.2 ± 3.54, 66.99 ± 3.43 in 24, 48, 72-h. Biochemical experiments showed that T-b-P@PTX has a strong ability to induce cell death and to be internalized in the MCF-7 cells. Ethidium bromide (EB)-acridine orange (AO) and nuclear DAPI staining methods investigated the morphological changes of the cells. Considering all the advantages, Paclitaxel-loaded T-b-P@PTX polymeric nanoparticle is a promising approach for treating breast cancer.

Keywords

• Breast cancer
• nanocarrier
• paclitaxel
• polymeric nanoparticles
• tPGS