Docetaxel-loaded, dipeptide-functionalized γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and targeting to prostate cancer.

A new delivery system was designed and synthesized to increase the efficiency of Docetaxel. For this aim, γ-Fe2O3 was synthesized in order to give the nanoparticle the ability to be magnetic targeted. It was functionalized with citric acid to prevent clumping and maintain stability. To increase the interaction efficiency between the delivery system and the drug, leucine-glycine dipeptide and an amphiphilic polymer, Pluronic-F127, were attached to the nanoparticle. Characterization studies were carried out with XRD, ICP-MS, VSM, TEM, and zeta potential to elucidate the structure of this carrier system. After docetaxel was bound to the synthesized carrier, its therapeutic effect was measured by spectrophotometric and flowcytometric methods (MTT, ROS and apoptosis). Docetaxel-bound nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability of the tumor cell compared to the healthy cell in a dose-dependent manner, especially at 24 (50.14±13.25 to 22.32±5.51 at 100 μg/mL) and 48 (41.46±2.22 o 18.80±2.81 at 100 μg/mL) hours. The rate of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species in the negative sample increased from 2.7% to 15.4% and from 9.6% to 74.7%, respectively, as a result of treatment with 15 μg/mL γ-Fe2O3/C/LG/F127/Dotx. Thus, it can be said that the synthesized carrier system is a suitable candidate for the improvement of docetaxel transport.