Evaluation of Drug Release and Cytotoxic Assessment of Doxorubicin Encapsulated Gold Nanospheres

Abstract

Breast cancer continues to pose a significant health challenge with an escalating incidence worldwide. Effective drug delivery mechanisms are pivotal for successful breast cancer treatment, with nanotechnology pioneering groundbreaking advancements in this field. Metallic nanoparticles have exhibited promising potential in breast cancer theranostics. Our research focused on synthesizing gold nanoparticles using the Turkevich method, followed by surface modifications utilizing diverse polymers such as PEG-1500, m-PEG-6000, and 1-DDT, each functionalized with distinct functional groups. These polymer-coated nanoparticles were then conjugated with the widely used chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, to evaluate the efficiency of drug delivery. Comprehensive characterization employing UV/VIS, SEM, XRD, and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful integration of gold, polymers, and drugs, with distinct spectroscopic signatures such as (Au-O-Au) stretches, S=O (Thiol group), CH2 (methyl group), and Amine (NH2) groups. Morphologically, the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape with a size ranging between 15-30 nm. Biocompatibility of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles were assessed through hemolysis and MTT assays which revealed their potential for diverse biomedical applications. The hemolytic assay showed that coated gold nanoparticles showed least hemolysis with a percentage of 4.74% as compared to the bare ones. The cytotoxicity assay, specifically with the m-peg-6000 polymer-coated doxorubicin conjugates, demonstrates a significant advancement, with the drug exhibiting a remarkable 40% cell viability—indicating it only enhancing the drug activity but also optimizing drug delivery by working as an efficient carrier. This enhancement in cytotoxicity, substantiated by specific performance metrics, highlighted the superior performance of the m-PEG-6000 polymer. The drug release assay showed controlled release pattern in 1-DDT drug conjugates, particularly between 24-48 hours post-initial burst. In contrast, m-PEG-6000 exhibited stable and controlled drug release, free from any outbursts throughout the assay, emphasizing its superior potential for controlled drug delivery applications. In considering the clinical implications, the findings suggest a transformative role for these nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment, offering targeted and sustained drug release, with translational aspects that could redefine therapeutic interventions.