Abstract
Purpose: To develop poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nanoparticles (NPs) for the delivery of sunitinib malate (STM) to colon cancer cells.
Methods: Three different formulations (F1 - F3) were developed by nano-precipitation technique using various concentrations of PLGA. The NPs were evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug entrapment, and drug loading, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, in vitro drug release and anticancer studies were carried out on the formulations.
Results: Among the three NPs, optimized NP (F3) of STM was chosen for in vitro anti-cancer study against H-29 human colon cancer cells lines based on its particle size (132.9 nm), PDI (0.115), zeta potential (-38.12 mV), entrapment efficiency (52.42 %), drug loading (5.24 %), and drug release (91.26 % in 48 h). A significant anti-cancer activity of the optimized NPs was observed, relative to free STM.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that STM-loaded NPs possess significant anti-cancer activity against human colon cancer HT-29 cells lines.