Abstract:
Abstract: Over the past several decades, the development of engineered small particles as targeted
and drug delivery systems (TDDS) has received great attention thanks to the possibility to over-
come the limitations of classical cancer chemotherapy, including targeting incapability, nonspecific
action and, consequently, systemic toxicity. Thus, this research aims at using a novel design of
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) p(NIPAM)-based microgels to specifically target cancer cells and avoid
the healthy ones, which is expected to decrease or eliminate the side effects of chemotherapeutic
drugs. Smart NIPAM-based microgels were functionalized with acrylic acid and coupled to folic acid
(FA), targeting the folate receptors overexpressed by cancer cells and to the chemotherapeutic drug
doxorubicin (Dox). The successful conjugation of FA and Dox was demonstrated by dynamic light
scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),
UV-VIS analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, viability assay performed
on cancer and healthy breast cells, suggested the microgels’ biocompatibility and the cytotoxic effect
of the conjugated drug. On the other hand, the specific tumor targeting of synthetized microgels was
demonstrated by a co-cultured (healthy and cancer cells) assay monitored using confocal microscopy
and flow cytometry. Results suggest successful targeting of cancer cells and drug release. These data
support the use of pNIPAM-based microgels as good candidates as TDDS.
