TY  - EJOU
AU  - MOMEN-MESGIN, RAZIEH 
AU  - REZAIE, JAFAR 
AU  - NEJATI, VAHID 
AU  - MOGHADAM, PEYMAN NAJAFI 

TI  - Magnetic melamine cross-linked polystyrene-alt-malic anhydride copolymer: Synthesis, characterization, paclitaxel delivery, cytotoxic effects on human ovarian and breast cancer cells
T2  - Oncology Research

PY  - 2025
VL  - 33
IS  - 3
SN  - 1555-3906

AB  -  <b>Objectives:</b> Due to systematic side effects, there is a growing interest in nanoparticle formulation of anticancer drugs. Here, we aimed to synthesize poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) cross-linked by melamine (PSMA/Me) and coated with magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>. In addition, we aimed to load paclitaxel (PTX) into PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> for drug delivery and anticancer investigations. <b>Methods:</b> Novel PSMA/Me was synthesized via free radical copolymerization, coated with Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, and then used as a transporter for PTX delivery. Fabricated copolymer was characterized using SEM, TGA, and XRD techniques. Drug release rate and loading efficiency were investigated. Human ovarian cancer cells (Skov-3) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells) were incubated with the serial concentration of either free PTX or PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX for cell viability and IC<sub>50</sub> analysis for 24 and 48 h. <b>Results:</b> Characterization methods confirmed PSMA/Me copolymer formation. The results showed a significant encapsulation efficiency of 83%. The drug release analysis exhibited that PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX may be considered pH-sensitive nanocarriers. PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX reduced cell viability both dose and time-dependently (<i>p</i> < 0.05). IC<sub>50</sub> values of PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX were low when compared to free PTX either 24 or 48 h post-treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our results indicated that PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX was more cytotoxic than PTX in both cancer cells. Findings indicated the potential of PSMA/Me/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/PTX as an anticancer nanocarrier system.
KW  - Breast cancer; Ovarian cancer; PSMA/Me Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> MNPs; Paclitaxel (PTX)

DO  - 10.32604/or.2024.054487