Thermosensitive Behavior Defines the Features of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Magnetite Nanoparticles for Cancer Management

Abstract

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)/magnetite nanoparticles in various conditions. The nanoprecipitation conditions address the impact of the temperature on PNIPAM/magnetite nanoparticle features due to the thermosensitive character of PNIPAM. Hybrid nanoparticles with desired features (size, size distribution, agglomeration, and release profile) are prepared by nanoprecipitation in non-solvent (acetone) at various temperatures. These nanoparticles are targeted as nanocarriers to deliver doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. Therefore, three temperatures, below the LCST (lower critical solution temperature), around the LCST, and above the LCST, were chosen as the main parameters within nanoprecipitation. Besides temperature, another major parameter drives the nanoparticles’ features: polymer solution concentration. In this regard, two variable parameters were used to study the characteristics of developed hybrid nanoparticles. After preparation, the hybrid nanoparticles were subjected to morphological and size distribution investigation by SEM and DLS. The doxorubicin loading and release measurements were also performed to reveal the behavior of the nanoparticles. Finally, the unloaded and loaded hybrid nanoparticles were biologically assessed within a cancer cells line (MCF7) in terms of biocompatibility, cancer cell viability, and cell morphology.

Recent Progress and Challenges Regarding Magnetite-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

“…On the other hand, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) was used for the fabrication of a thermosensitive magnetic nanocarrier [51]. PNIPAM undergoes transitions in response to temperature (LCST 32-34 • C).…”

“…Fluorescence microscopy, both conventional and confocal, is one of such methods, chosen for its relatively straightforward experimental setup. Its utilization was identified in numerous original papers referenced in this review [46][47][48]50,51,63,71,73,80,84,88,90,95,[101][102][103][104]110,117]. It allows for studying extensive cell populations or relatively sizable tissue samples.…”

Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogels as Carriers for Modulated Delivery of Acetaminophen

“…Monomer N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) was usually copolymerized with numerous types of other synthetic monomers [ 14 , 15 ]), natural polymers or their combinations, in order to form the new, innovative hydrogels with different desired properties. Hydrogels have been utilized in many pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, for example, in temperature-sensitive modulated drug delivery [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ], bioanalysis, bioseparations [ 20 , 21 ] and biosensors [ 22 ].…”