European Cells & Materials
Mesoporous Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized With Quaternary Ammonium Salts as Targeted Nanocarriers for Doxorubicin Delivery in Breast Cancer Therapy
By Sana Mousavi, Sedigheh Ehsanimehr, Tooba Mohammadi and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Nanotechnology offers promising strategies to overcome major limitations of conventional cancer chemotherapy, including poor targeting, systemic toxicity, and low drug bioavailability. This study focuses on developing a biocompatible magnetic nanocarrier modified with a quaternary ammonium salt to improve the delivery and therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells.
Methods
Mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles were modified with a Quaternary ammonium salt prepared from to enhance drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, stability, and anticancer efficacy. The nanocarrier was characterized using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to evaluate its structure, size, and surface properties. In vitro drug release was evaluated at pH 7.4 and 5.5 to simulate physiological and tumor microenvironments, respectively. Biological performance and therapeutic potential were assessed through cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and hemolysis assays.