Multifunctional phosphate based nanoparticles as a platform for imaging, targeting and doxorubicin delivery to human breast cancer CD44+ cells

Functionalized nanostructured systems can be used for imaging and drug delivery for anti-tumor therapy, including breast tumors. This is a more efficient approach that offers reduced systemic side effects compared to conventional diagnostic and chemotherapy methods. Multifunctional nanoparticles are potential tools in the diagnosis, location tracing and kill tumor cells through a less invasive manner. Functionalized phosphate-based nanoparticles are capable of encapsulating, or may be associated, with fluorescent probes. In this study, we synthesize a nanoparticle phosphate-based composite (NPC) and functionalize it with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG), hyaluronic acid (HA), the fluorescent probe rhodamin 6G (R6G) and the antimitotic doxorubicin (DOX). We focused on targeting human breast cancer cells reporting the biological effects of functionalized NPC on them. NPC and NPC formulations containing PEG, HA, and R6G did not cause cell viability reduction on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The cellular internalization of NPC was quantified by real-time in vitro observation, and confirmed by electron microscopy techniques. Intracellular NPC distribution is detected in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells by confocal fluorescent images. The percent association of doxorubicin to NPC matrix was approximately 18% and NPC formulations associated with doxorubicin led to a significant reduction in cell viability in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. This data suggest the potential use of NPC as a non-cytotoxic platform for association with functional ligands to selective targeting breast cancer cells. NPC use can be also explored in drug delivery to cancer cells.