Targeted combined therapy in 2D and 3D cultured MCF-7 cells using metformin and erlotinib-loaded mesoporous silica magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Aim

This research aims to develop potential therapeutic nanostructures (NSs) encapsulating metformin (MET) and erlotinib (ER) for combinational therapy in breast cancer.

Methods

The ER and MET, both were loaded on mesoporous silica magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with polyethylene glycol and methotrexate to achieve targeted NSs. The developed NSs were characterised using SEM, DLS, and FTIR. Afterward, MTT, Trypan blue, and DNA extraction assays were operated for biological evaluations in the 2D and 3D MCF-7 cells.

Results

Physicochemical approaches indicated the mean diameter of 69.4 nm ± 9.5 (PDI = 0.64), and neutral charge (2 mv) for the developed NSs. MET and ER-loaded NSs exhibited 62.56% ± 4.41 and 67.73% ± 3.03 drug release amount in pH = 5.4, respectively. MTT assay revealed that ER- and MET-loaded NSs had less metabolic activity (≈ 20%) in comparison with non-targeted NSs.

Conclusion

Overall, our combined ER and MET-loaded targeted NSs result in a synergistic inhibitory impact on MCF-7 cells.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• erlotinib
• metformin
• combined therapy
• targeted drug delivery
• magnetic nanoparticles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Student Research Committee (No. 58777) and technical support provided by the Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.