Development and characterization of magnetic hydrogels loaded with greenly synthesized iron-oxide nanoparticles conjugated with cisplatin

Abstract

A novel approach was devised to address the challenges in delivering cisplatin (CIS) for lung cancer treatment. This involved the development of a non-invasive hydrogel delivery system, aiming to minimize side effects associated with its administration. Using carbopol 971 (CP) and chitosan (CH) at varying ratios, the hydrogels were prepared and loaded with eco-friendly iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) conjugated to CIS. The physical properties, yield, drug loading, and cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell lines (A549) were assessed, along with hydrogel rheological properties and in vitro drug diffusion. Hydrogel A1 that composed of 1:1 of CP:CH hydrogel loaded with 100 mg IONPs and 250 µg CIS demonstrated distinctive properties that indicate its suitability for potential delivery. The loaded greenly synthesized IONPs@CIS exhibited a particle size of 23.0 nm, polydispersity index of 0.47, yield of 71.6%, with 88.28% drug loading. They displayed significant cytotoxicity (61.7%) against lung cancer cell lines (A549), surpassing free CIS cytotoxicity (28.1%). Moreover, they demonstrated shear-thinning behaviour, viscoelastic properties, and Fickian drug release profile over 24 h (flux 2.34 µg/cm²/h, and permeability 0.31 cm/h).

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Cisplatin
• lung cancer
• magnetic hydrogel
• carbopol
• chitosan

Acknowledgment

Authors thank the Deanship of Graduate Studies at Al-Ahliyya Amman University for financial support of the project (council number 13/54/2020-2021).

Authors’ contributions

RA: conceptualization, supervision, methodology, formal analysis, reviewing, and editing. AS: methodology, formal analysis, writing original draft. RH: supervision, formal analysis, reviewing, and editing.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors.