PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIPOPOLYMERIC HYBRID NANOSYSTEMS FOR IMAGING AND THERAPY OF HIGHLY METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

Purpose: The technology based design of nanosystems has become more complex over the years since it now combines multiple functionalities within nanoparticles as a single delivery system. One such design involves combining the advantages of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles with the biomimetic properties of liposomes. In this study, we have successfully engineered a multifunctional lipopolymeric hybrid nanosystem encapsulating an anticancer agent, curcumin, with a fluorescently labeled dye for imaging and therapy of breast cancer. Methods: Functionalized curcumin loaded hybrid nanoparticles for was prepared by nanoprecipitation method. The hybrid nanoparticles thus formulated were then characterized for drug loading, particle size, zeta potential and surface morphology. To evaluate our nanosystems, intracellular uptake of these drug loaded nanosystems along with its effect on cellular migration in non-malignant (MCF10A) and highly malignant metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MCF10CA1a) was determined. Further, functional assays like cell viability assay were carried out to determine the functional integrity of the encapsulated drug. Long-term stability analysis of the hybrid nanoparticles were carried out for 6 days at room temperature. Results: The formulation of the lipopolymeric hybrid nanosystem by nanoprecipitation was found to be successful with a drug loading of 12.4 ± 0.8 µg/mg of nanoparticles for curcumin. The particle size distribution was narrow with the mean particle size being 116.8 ±10 nm. The zeta potential of these hybrid nanoparticles was determined to be -31.66mV.The surface morphology of the hybrid nanoparticles was determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Results revealed smooth and spherical nanoparticles. Intracellular uptake studies were carried out in highly malignant breast cancer cell line, MCF10CA1a. Confocal Microscopy scans show robust cellular uptake of the fluorescently labeled hybrid nanosystems. Long-term stability analysis results reveal that these hybrid nanoparticles are stable in PBS for as long as 6 days with only ±5 nm change observed in mean particle size. Conclusions: We successfully formulated the lipopolymeric hybrid nanosystem with a fluorescently labeled dye and an anticancer agent. This type of a combinatorial theranostic system platform would allow for imaging and therapy with much less side effects than the traditional treatments because it will use anticancer agents at lower doses than used in current chemotherapies.