Issue 22, 2017

Multifunctional microspherical magnetic and pH responsive carriers for combination anticancer therapy engineered by droplet-based microfluidics

Abstract

pH stimuli responsive drug delivery platforms that can target specific locations along the gastrointestinal tract hold great promise for colorectal cancer therapy. Herein, we present a facile approach to produce microfluidic engineered pH-sensitive magnetic microspherical carriers containing multifunctional therapeutic payloads for synergistic treatment of colorectal cancer. Chemotherapeutics, 5 fluorouracil (5FU) and curcumin (CUR), were chosen due to their synergistic effect for colorectal cancer treatment and prevention. Drugs were loaded onto naturally derived porous silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) and magnetic bacterial iron oxide nanowires (BacNWs), which acted as drug nanocontainers and magnetic elements, respectively. Drug loaded SiNPs and BacNWs were then encapsulated into polymeric microspheres using droplet-based microfluidics. To ensure controlled drug delivery into the desired site of action (colon and rectum), the microspheres were fabricated using hypromellose acetate succinate polymers, which are insoluble in the acidic medium of the stomach (i.e. pH 1.2) but soluble at basic pH (colon and rectum). Our results confirmed that the microspheres exhibit a narrow size distribution (CV > 5%) with precise size control. Moreover, in vitro dissolution and drug release data confirmed their pH-responsive properties. Motivated by these results, we explored the biocompatibility of microspheres using human RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results revealed the safety of drug free microspheres up to 1000 μg mL−1. Finally, the synergistic action of 5FU and CUR loaded microspheres was investigated on SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells.

Graphical abstract: Multifunctional microspherical magnetic and pH responsive carriers for combination anticancer therapy engineered by droplet-based microfluidics

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Mar 2017
Accepted
19 Apr 2017
First published
21 Apr 2017

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017,5, 4097-4109

Multifunctional microspherical magnetic and pH responsive carriers for combination anticancer therapy engineered by droplet-based microfluidics

S. Maher, A. Santos, T. Kumeria, G. Kaur, M. Lambert, P. Forward, A. Evdokiou and D. Losic, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 4097 DOI: 10.1039/C7TB00588A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements