title: Doxorubicin-conjugated core-shell magnetite nanoparticles as dual-targeting carriers for anticancer drug delivery.
abstract: The present study reports the successful synthesis of core-shell nanostructures composed of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) conjugated to the anticancer drug doxorubicin, intended for dual targeting of the drug to the tumor sites via a combination of the magnetic attraction and the pH-sensitive cleavage of the drug-particle linkages along with a longer circulation time and reduced side effects. To improve the carrier biocompatibility, the prepared nanocarrier was, finally coated by chitosan. FT-IR analysis confirmed the synthesis of functionalized Fe3O4-NPs, doxorubicin-conjugated Fe3O4-NPs, and chitosan-coated nanocarriers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the formation of spherical nanostructures with the final average particle size of around 50 nm. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis showed that the saturation magnetization value (Ms) of carrier was 6 emu/g. The drug release behavior from the nanocarriers was investigated both in acidic and neutral buffered solutions (pH values of 5.3 and 7.4, respectively) and showed two-fold increase in the extent of drug release at pH 5.3 compared to pH 7.4 during 7 days. The results showed that the dual-targeting nanocarriers responded successfully to the external magnetic field and pH. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that this methodology can be used to target and improve therapeutic efficacy of the anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran; Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadighian
authors.affiliation: Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. Electronic address: Rostamizadeh@zums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Kobra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rostamizadeh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseini-Monfared
authors.affiliation: Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamidi
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007700:Kinetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D055672:Static Electricity; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D004317:Doxorubicin; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Cancer targeting; Conjugation; Doxorubicin; Dual-targeting; Magnetite nanoparticles; Nanocarrier