Controlled Release and Photothermal Behavior of Multipurpose Nanocomposite Particles Containing Encapsulated Gold-Decorated Magnetite and 5-FU in Poly(lactide--glycolide).

Nowadays, many research studies have been conducted to prepare multidisciplinary probes in drug delivery systems and cancer therapy with high performance and minimum side effects. Here, poly(lactide--glycolide) (PLGA) nanocomposite particles containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and gold-decorated magnetite nanoparticles with a raspberry-like morphology were designed and prepared as a novel and anticancer probe. For this reason, FeO nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method and modified with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane for the deposition of gold nanoparticles. Then, they were embedded in the PLGA matrix alone and accompanied by 5-FU with 92 and 88% loading efficiencies, respectively, through a multiple emulsion solvent evaporation method. Chemical structure and composition of the prepared samples in each step were completely characterized by several techniques. The morphology of the nanocomposite particles was assessed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction patterns, and their particle size and colloidal stability after 1 week were evaluated by dynamic light scattering. Because of the coexistence of gold and FeO nanoparticles, the final probe provided enhanced dual magneto and photothermal responses by increasing the temperature up to 42.7 °C under 5 min external alternating magnetic field and to 42.1 °C within just 1 min near-infrared irradiation at 808 nm. Trypan blue dye exclusion assays showed that they are biocompatible with reasonable toxicity (IC50 of 0.62 mg/mL) with respect to DU145 prostate cancer cells. Drug release profile of the 5-FU-loaded nanocomposite particles demonstrated their controlled release at 37 °C in phosphate-buffered saline solution. These indicate multidisciplinary characteristics of such particles in cancer therapy by photothermal, magnetic hyperthermia, and chemotherapy according to the presence of various active components.