Self-assembled ZnS nanospheres with nanoscale porosity as an efficient carrier for the delivery of doxorubicin

Abstract

We report the synthesis of self-aggregated mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles with large mesoscopic void spaces via anionic surfactant mediated templating pathway. High BET surface area and mesoporosity of the material has motivated us to use it as a drug-delivery vehicle employing doxorubicin as a chemotherapeutic drug. The study indicates the novel approach to restrict the leukemic cell proliferation by the induction of apoptosis has been achieved through the doxorubicin loaded mesoporous ZnS nanoparticle (MZns-Edox). We found concentration and time dependently inhibition of cell viability that provokes apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway with the generation of ROS and the destabilization of mitochondrial membrane permeability. It leads to the release of various apoptotic factors like AIF, EndoG, Cyt c that may activate the caspase pathway. In this study, we established the apoptotic induction property of the drug loaded mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles against leukemic cells. Thus, mesoporous ZnS nanomaterial based drug-delivery system can activates the apoptotic pathway in time dependent response with a minimal concentration of doxorubicin and it can regulates lymphocytic leukemia cell growth.