International Journal of Nanomedicine (Nov 2019)
Physical PEGylation Enhances The Cytotoxicity Of 5-Fluorouracil-Loaded PLGA And PCL Nanoparticles
Abstract
Abdelkader E Ashour,1,2 Mohammad Badran,3 Ashok Kumar,4 Tajamul Hussain,5 Ibrahim A Alsarra,3 Alaa Eldeen B Yassin3,6,7 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Vitiligo Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA; 6Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, College of Pharmacy-3163, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard, Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Alaa Eldeen B YassinCollege of Pharmacy-3163 King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences PO Box: 3660, Riyadh 11481, Saudi ArabiaTel +966509426323Fax +966114295058Email [email protected]: The main goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of physical incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NPs).Methods: The 5-FU-loaded NPs were prepared utilizing a simple double emulsion method using polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) with or without PEG 6000. The surface charge, particle size, and shape of NPs were evaluated by standard procedures. Both Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectra of the 5-FU loaded NPs were compared against the pure 5-FU. The in vitro release profile of 5-FU from the NPs was monitored by the dialysis tubing method. Cell death and apoptosis induction in response to 5-FU NP exposure were measured by MTT and Annexin–V/7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) assays, respectively, in Daoy, HepG2, and HT-29 cancer cell lines.Results: The 5-FU loaded NPs were found to be spherical in shape with size ranging between 176±6.7 and 253.9±8.6 nm. The zeta potential varied between −7.13± 0.13 and −27.06±3.18 mV, and the entrapment efficiency was between 31.96% and 74.09%. The in vitro release of the drug followed a two-phase mode characterized by rapid release in the first 8 hrs followed by a period of slow release up to 72 hrs with composition-based variable extents. Cells exposed to NPs demonstrated a significant cell death which correlated with the ratio of PEG in the formulations in Daoy and HepG2 cells but not in HT-29 cells. Formulations (F1–F3) significantly induced early apoptosis in HT-29 cell lines.Conclusion: The physical PEGylation significantly enhanced the entrapment and loading efficiencies of 5-FU into NPs formulated with PLGA and PCL. It also fostered the in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-FU-loaded NPs in both Daoy and HepG2 cells. Induction of early apoptosis was confirmed for some of the formulations.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2, emulsification-solvent evaporation technique, colorectal carcinoma HT-29, MTT assay, apoptosis
