Title: Polymeric chitosan based nanogels as a potential platform for dual targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy

Authors: Tuong Vi Tran; Thanh Hien Dang Phuong; Ngoc Quyen Tran; Cuu Khoa Nguyen; Dai Hai Nguyen

Addresses: Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, No. 01 Mac Dinh Chi St., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ' Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, No. 01 Mac Dinh Chi St., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ' Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, No. 01 Mac Dinh Chi St., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ' Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, No. 01 Mac Dinh Chi St., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam ' Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, No. 01 Mac Dinh Chi St., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Abstract: Dual-drug delivery system (DDDS) is reported as an outstanding candidate for the treatment of cancer. In this study, self-assembled nanogels were fabricated using poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (mPEG) and chitosan for a combination of drugs, paclitaxel (PTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Especially, variable mPEG molar concentrations were prepared for the purpose of improving the water solubility of chitosan, creating new opportunities for DDDS. The chemical structure of mPEG-chitosan copolymer was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The combined drugs loaded nanogels were spherical in shape, which was revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, the entrapment efficiencies of PTX and 5-FU were around 50% and 10%, respectively. The release profiles of either PTX or 5-FU exhibited considerable association with favourable hydrophilicity of mPEG. Overall, these results demonstrated that mPEG-chitosan nanogels present potential for controlled release of PTX-5-FU working as a delivery system in cancer therapy.

Keywords: dual-drug delivery; poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether; chitosan; paclitaxel; 5-fluorouracil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2018.089567

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2018 Vol.15 No.1/2/3, pp.188 - 198

Published online: 30 Jan 2018 *

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