Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles for controlled delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic doxorubicin for breast cancer therapy

Abstract

Background:

Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for the controlled delivery of hydrophilic doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX.HCl) and lipophilic DOX base have been fabricated by the single step modified nanoprecipitation method.

Materials and methods:

Poly (D, L-lactide-co-glicolide) (PLGA), lecithin, and 1,2-distearoyl-Sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy (polyethylene glycol)-2000 (DSPE-PEG 2000) were selected as structural components.

Results:

The mean particle size was 173–208 nm, with an encapsulation efficiency of 17.8±1.9 to 43.8±4.4% and 40.3±0.6 to 59. 8±1.4% for DOX.HCl and DOX base, respectively. The drug release profile was in the range 33–57% in 24 hours and followed the Higuchi model (R²=0.9867–0.9450) and Fickian diffusion (n<0.5). However, the release of DOX base was slower than DOX.HCl. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies and confocal imaging showed safety, good biocompatibility, and a higher degree of particle internalization. The higher internalization of DOX base was attributed to higher permeability of lipophilic component and better hydrophobic interaction of particles with cell membranes. Compared to the free DOX, the DOX.HCl and DOX base loaded LPHNPs showed higher antiproliferation effects in MDA-MB231 and PC3 cells.

Conclusion:

Therefore, LPHNPs have provided a potential drug delivery strategy for safe, controlled delivery of both hydrophilic and lipophilic form of DOX in cancer cells.

Keywords:

• lipid polymer hybrid
• doxorubicin
• breast cancer
• nanotechnology
• drug delivery

View correction statement:

Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Controlled Delivery of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Doxorubicin for Breast Cancer Therapy [Erratum]

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for the travel grant for the University of Helsinki Finland, the indigenous PhD scholarship from Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, financial support from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (Decision No. 4704580), and the Helsinki Institute of Life Science Research Funds. The Electron Microscopy Unit of the University of Helsinki is acknowledged for providing the facilities for TEM imaging, and the Light Microscopy Unit of the Institute of Biotechnology for the instrumentation for confocal microscopy.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.