title: Synthesis and in vitro anti-cancer evaluation of tamoxifen-loaded magnetite/PLLA composite nanoparticles.
abstract: The present study deals with the synthesis and characterization of tamoxifen-loaded magnetite/poly(l-lactic acid) composite nanoparticles (TMCN), and their in vitro anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The composite nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 200 nm, were synthesized via a solvent evaporation/extraction technique in an oil/water emulsion. The superparamagnetic property (saturation magnetization value of approximately 7 emu/g) of the TMCN is provided by Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles of approximately 6 nm encapsulated in the poly(l-lactic acid) matrix. The encapsulation efficiency of the Fe(3)O(4) and tamoxifen as a function of the concentration in the organic phase was investigated. The uptake of TMCN and tamoxifen by MCF-7 was estimated from the intracellular iron concentration. After 4h incubation of MCF-7 with TMCN, significant changes in the cell morphology were discernible from phase contrast microscopy. Cytotoxicity assay shows that while the Fe(3)O(4)-loaded poly(l-lactic acid) composite nanoparticles exhibit no significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7, approximately 80% of the these cells were killed after incubation for 4 days with TMCN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260, Singapore.
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Neoh
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013629:Tamoxifen; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide