Targeted coadministration of sparingly soluble paclitaxel and curcumin into cancer cells by surface engineered magnetic nanoparticles

This study presents a feasible method for the fabrication of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for the targeted coadministration of two anticancer agents, paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CUR). MNPs were first surface modified with N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine to form a self-assembled monolayer and subsequently conjugated with folic acid and carboxymethylcyclodextrin through amidation between carboxy groups of folic acid/carboxymethylcyclodextrin and amine groups on the nanoparticle surface. Drug release studies showed that PTX/CUR was diffused out from the nanoparticle under low pH, mimicking the intracellular conditions in the lysosome and also at pH 7.4. Cellular viability studies proved the efficacy of the coadministration of PTX/CUR and the dose dependent antiproliferative effect in cancer cell lines (HeLa and glioma cells). The modified nanoparticles were also found to be highly blood compatible indicating their suitability for in vivo applications. In vitro evaluations reflected that owing to the enhanced targeting ability, the newly designed multifunctionalized MNPs can be used as vectors for the coadministration of anticancer agents which may be effective in defending multidrug resistance.