Influence of Stabilizers on the Production of disulfiram-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles and Their Anticancer Potential

Abstract

Aim: Our hypothesis was to prove that surface modifiers themselves can be used as stabilizers and that their entrapment efficiency is directly influenced by the type of stabilizers used. Materials & methods: Particle size and the polydispersity index of the nanoparticles (NPs) were measured by dynamic light scattering, whereas the morphology of the NPs was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Percentage nanoparticle yield, entrapment efficiency and drug loading capacity were measured by ultraviolet absorbance. The physical rigidity, robustness and drug releasing capability of these NPs were also assessed. Conclusion: Physiochemical characterization and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay suggest that polysorbate 80 has the dual capability of being a stabilizer and a surface modifier in addition to having better drug entrapment properties than Pluronic^® 188. Disulfiram, the drug that was loaded on these NPs, is also observed for the first time to show significant anticancer potential against hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cell lines.

Keywords:

• anticancer potential
• disulfiram
• PLGA nanoparticles
• Pluronic 188
• polysorbate 80
• stabilizers
• Triton X-100

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Corrigenda

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was part of a project (SB/FT/LS-255/2012) funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under the Young Scientists Scheme and Department of Biotechnology (DBT-IPLS), Government of India. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate insti­tutional review board approval or have followed the princi­ples outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investi­gations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.