Use of hybrid iron oxide-silver nanoparticles for thermo-responsive drug delivery in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th most aggressive cancer in the Western world. There are very little drugs available as chemotherapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Of the ones used, most of them become eliminated by first pass metabolism before they reach their desired site of action. Nanoparticles which can work as drug delivery systems have huge potential for the treatment of different kinds of cancer such as pancreatic cancer. The qualities of silver nanoparticles applicable to human treatments are under investigation in assessing potential efficacy, laboratory and animal studies, toxicity, and costs. Coating Iron oxide with silver nanoparticles can lead increase silver performance and it can deliver the silver nano particles and cancer drugs to the target cells.
In this report, we focus on the design, synthesis, and characterization of hybrid iron oxide-silver core-shell nanostructures (HNPs). The HNP were characterised by various techniques such as magnetic properties, particle size, zeta potential, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), ultraviolet light (UV) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The laser mediated heating confirmed that the HNPs possessed surface plasmon resonance and hence highlights the potential of new HNP capability in thermo-responsive drug delivery.
The drug conjugation, stability and releasing of HNP- BNIPDSpm and HNP-BNIPDSpm-PEG Thiol were assessed by FTIR, zeta potential and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC results demonstrated new formulations have high physical and formulations stabilities. PEGylated formulations demonstrated greater release of drug in comparison with their unPEGylated counterparts. The drug release were assessed and optimised in biological media and aqueous environments.