TPGS-modified Chitosan Nanoparticles of EGFR Inhibitor: Physicochemical and In vitro Evaluation against HepG2 Cell Lines

Background Gefitinib (GFN) is an Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medication to treat lung cancer. However, this investigation aimed to produce and characterize Gefitinib (GFN)-loaded chitosan and soy lecithin nanoparticles (NPs) modified with D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate mono ester (TPGS) and assess their therapeutic potential against HepG2 liver cell lines. Methods Chitosan, a cationic polymer with biocompatible and biodegradable properties, was combined with soy lecithin to develop the NPs loaded with GFN using a self-organizing ionic interaction methodology. Results The entrapment efficiency and drug loading were found to be 59.04 +/- 4.63 to 87.37 +/- 3.82% and 33.46 +/- 3.76 to 49.50 +/- 4.35%, respectively, and results indicated the encapsulation of GEN in NPs. The pH of the formulations was observed between 4.48-4.62. Additionally, all the prepared NPs showed the size and PDI range of 89.2 +/- 15.9 nm to 799.2 +/- 35.8 nm and 0.179 +/- 0.065 to 0.455 +/- 0.097, respectively. The FTIR bands in optimized formulation (GFN-NP1) indicated that the drug might be contained within the NP's core. The SEM photograph revealed the spherical shape of NPs. The kinetic release model demonstrated the combination of diffusion and erosion mechanisms. The IC50 value of GFN and GFN-NP1 formulation against the HepG2 cell lines were determined and found to be 63.22 +/- 3.36 mu g/ml and 45.80 +/- 2.53 mu g/ml, respectively. DAPI and PI staining agents were used to detect nuclear morphology. Conclusion It was observed that the optimized GFN-NP1 formulation successfully internalized and inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells. Hence, it can be concluded that the prepared NPs can be a new therapeutic option for treating liver cancer.