title: Chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles as carriers of 5-fluorouracil: preparation, characterization and cytotoxicity studies.
abstract: The chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CS MNPs) were prepared as carriers of 5-Fluorouracil (CS-5-Fu MNPs) through a reverse microemulsion method. The characteristics of CS-5-Fu MNPs were determined by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectroscopy and vibrating-sampling magnetometry (VSM). It was found that the synthesized CS-5-Fu MNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 100+/-20 nm, low aggregation and good magnetic responsivity. Meanwhile, the drug content and encapsulation rate of the nanoparticles was 16-23% and 60-92%, respectively. These CS-5-Fu MNPs also demonstrated sustained release of 5-Fu at 37 degrees C in different buffer solutions. The cytotoxicity of CS-5-Fu MNPs towards K562 cancer cells was investigated. The result showed that CS-5-Fu MNPs retained significant antitumor activities. Additionally, it was observed that the FITC-labeled CS-5-Fu MNPs could effectively enter into the SPCA-1 cancer cells and induced cell apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Life and Environment Science College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, PR China.
authors.forename: Longzhang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Nengqin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hebai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D048271:Chitosan; D005472:Fluorouracil