title: Novel core-shell magnetic nanoparticles for Taxol encapsulation in biodegradable and biocompatible block copolymers: preparation, characterization and release properties.
abstract: Theranostic polymeric nanocarriers loaded with anticancer drug Taxol and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals have been developed for possible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use and cancer therapy. Multifunctional nanocarriers with a core-shell structure have been prepared by coating superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with block copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene succinate) with variable molecular weights of the hydrophobic block poly(prolylene succinate). The multifunctional polymer nano-vehicles were prepared using a nanoprecipitation method. Scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed the encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles inside the polymeric matrix. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy mapping allowed us to determine the presence of the different material ingredients in a quantitative way. The diameter of the nanoparticles is below 250 nm yielding satisfactory encapsulation efficiency. The nanoparticles exhibit a biphasic drug release pattern in vitro over 15 days depending on the molecular weight of the hydrophobic part of the polymer matrix. These new systems where anti-cancer therapeutics like Taxol and iron oxide nanoparticles (IOs) are co-encapsulated into new facile polymeric nanoparticles, could be addressed as potential multifunctional vehicles for simultaneous drug delivery and targeting imaging as well as real time monitoring of therapeutic effects.
authors.affiliation: EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Maria.filippousi@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippousi
authors.forename: Sofia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Dimitrios N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bikiaris
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavlidou
authors.forename: Mavroeidis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelakeris
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zamboulis
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Tendeloo
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D011091:Polyesters; C541439:poly(propylene succinate); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017239:Paclitaxel