Co-encapsulation of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and doxorubicin into biodegradable PLGA nanocarriers for intratumoral drug delivery

Abstract

In this study, the authors constructed a novel PLGA [poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)]-based polymeric nanocarrier co-encapsulated with doxorubicin (DOX) and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (MNPs) using a single emulsion evaporation method. The DOX-MNPs showed high entrapment efficiency, and they supported a sustained and steady release of DOX. Moreover, the drug release was pH sensitive, with a faster release rate in an acidic environment than in a neutral environment. In vitro, the DOX-MNPs were easily internalized into murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells and they induced apoptosis. In vivo, the DOX-MNPs showed higher antitumor activity than free DOX solution. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of the DOX-MNPs was higher with than without an external magnetic field; they were also associated with smaller tumor volume and a lower metastases incidence rate. This work may provide a new modality for developing an effective drug delivery system.

Keywords:

• antitumor activity
• external magnetic field
• intratumoral injection
• apoptosis
• Lewis lung carcinoma

Acknowledgments

The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863, No 2007AA021806) supported this work. The authors are thankful to Ms Sylvia Chang at the University of California, Los Angeles, for her assistance in the English editing of the manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors declare they have no financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence this work, and they have no professional or personal interest of any nature in any product, service, or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in this work.