Design of multifunctional phytate coated magnetic composites for combined therapy with antitumor drugs

Abstract

A multifunctional composite as a potential carrier was successfully synthesized for synergistic therapy with an antitumor drug through a self-assembly route, which comprises a magnetic substrate with phytic acid surface functionality and bonding with Zn ions. The nanomaterials retained a spherical structure. The magnetization value of the nanomaterials was measured to be 44.6 emu g⁻¹; moreover, the carriers maintained stability and safety on normal tissue cells. The influence of different initial drug concentrations on drug loading was investigated. The drug release test showed that the carriers display sustained drug release behavior, which can be tuned by adjusting the pH. In particular, synergistic therapeutic efficiency was measured via MG63 tumor cells as a model cellular system. The bare nanocarriers show selective cytotoxicity towards tumor cells over normal cells, and the DOX-loaded nanocarriers exhibit a significant synergistic effect to kill tumor cells. The multifunctional nanocarriers, therefore, reveal promising potential in cancer therapy.