SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 5 FLUROURACIL CONJUGATED ZINCOXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AGAINST SKIN CANCER CELL LINES

Abstract

Background Nanoparticles particularly those with metallic nature are the ones with high anticancerous activity as they can induce ROS (reactive oxygen secies) thereby inducing oxidative stress in the cancerous cells. These particles these days are extensively used in pharmaceutics and research and development of therapeutics working in the area of diagnostics and treatment of cancers.

Methods ZnO-NPs were prepared chemically by wet chemical precipitation method using NaOH and zinc nitrate as reactants. 5 Fluorouracil broadly used as anticancer drug for skin cancer was conjugated with the synthesized znO nanoparticles and coated with PEG (poly ethyl glycol) as polymer in order to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy because of the efficient solubility, biocompatibility and increased retention time imparted by the polymer. The ultimate product PEG-5FU-ZnONPs is checked for activity against HaCAT skin cancer cell lines.The antioxidant, hemolytic activity and invitro stability was tested through DPPH, hemolytic assay and salt, temperature and pH testing. The morphology and characteristics of the ZnONPs, 5FU-ZnONP’s and PEG-5FU-ZnO were investigated by UV, XRD, SEM, EDX and FTIR. Results The characterization techniques confirm the synthesis of ZnONPs and drug conjugation. Cytotoxicity assessment of PEG-5FU-ZnONPs,5FU-ZnONPs and ZnONPs showed that PEG-5FU-ZnONPs have enhanced anticancerous activity than its counterparts. The hemolytic assay confirmed that the PEG-5FU-ZnONPs has less hemolytic and clotting activity than the drug when used alone. Cells exposed to PEG-5FU-ZnONPs showed increased reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radical production when compared to ZnONPs, 5FU- ZnONPs. The present findings suggest that PEG-5FU-ZnONPs can contribute to the development of a suitable anticancer drug delivery system in the near future.