Tumor micro-environment sensitive release of doxorubicin through chitosan based polymeric nanoparticles: An in-vitro study

Conventional chemotherapy poses toxic effects to healthy tissues. A therapeutic system is thus required that can administer, distribute, metabolize, and excrete medicine from human body without damaging healthy cells. This is possible by designing a therapeutic system that can release drug at specific target tissue. In current work, novel chitosan (CS) based polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) containing N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAM) and 2-(di-isopropyl amino) ethyl methacrylate (DPA) are designed. The presence of available functional groups i.e. OH− (3262 cm−1), –NH2 (1542 cm−1), and C[dbnd]O (1642 cm−1), was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectrophotometry (FTIR). The surface morphology and average particle size (175 nm) was determined through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) studies confirmed the amorphous nature and excellent thermal stability of PNPs up to 100 °C with only 2.69% mass loss was confirmed by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The pH sensitivity of such PNPs for release of encapsulated doxorubicin at malignant site was investigated. The encapsulation efficiency of PNPs was 89% (4.45 mg/5 mg) for doxorubicin (a chemotherapeutic) measured by using UV–Vis Spectrophotometer. The drug release profile of loaded PNPs was 88% (3.92 mg/4.45 mg) at pH 5.3, in 96 h. PNPs with varying DPA concentration can effectively be used to deliver chemotherapeutic agents with high efficacy. © 2022