title: PEG capped methotrexate silver nanoparticles for efficient anticancer activity and biocompatibility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nanocarriers endow tremendous benefits to the drug delivery systems depending upon the specific properties of either component. These benefits include, increase in the drug blood retention time, reduced efflux, additional toxicity and targeted delivery. Methotrexate (MTX) is clinically used for cancer treatment. Higher dosage of MTX results in hepatic and renal toxicity. In this study methotrexate silver nanoparticles (Ag-MTX) coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) are synthesized and characterized. Their anticancer activity and biocompatibility is also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ag-MTX nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical reduction method. They are characterized by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Average size of PEG coated Ag-MTX nanoparticles (PEG-Ag-MTX nanoparticles) is 12nm. These particles exhibited improved anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell line. Hemolytic activity of these particles was significantly less than MTX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEG-Ag-MTX nanoparticles are potential nanocarrier of methotrexate which may offer MTX based cancer treatment with reduced side effects. In-vivo investigations should be carried out to explore them in detail.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: zarmina.muhammad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zarmina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: abida_rao@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: ghafoorsana@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghafoor
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: ayesha.n.mehmood@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: organicsoul84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Syeda Sohaila
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: sundusriaz_fuuast@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sundus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riaz
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: 13msbmswahmad@smme.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Wajiha
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences & Technology, H-12 Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: nosheen.fatima@smme.nust.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Nosheen Fatima
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rana
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D012834:Silver; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Anticancerous drug; Chemotherapeutics; Hemocompatibility; Methotrexate; Pegylation; Silver nanoparticles