Controlled release of drug and better bioavailability using poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles

Abstract Tamoxifen (Tmx) embedded poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (PLGA-Tmx) is prepared to evaluate its better DNA cleavage potential, cytotoxicity using Dalton’s lymphoma ascite (DLA) cells and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells. PLGA-Tmx nanoparticles are prepared through emulsified nanoprecipitation technique with varying dimension of 17–30 nm by changing the concentrations of polymer, emulsifier and drug. Nanoparticles dimension are measured through electron and atomic force microscopy. Interactions between tamoxifen and PLGA are verified through spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. PLGA-Tmx shows excellent DNA cleavage potential as compared to pure Tmx raising better bioavailability. In vitro cytotoxicity studies indicate that PLGA-Tmx reduces DLA cells viability up to ∼38% against ∼15% in pure Tmx. Hoechst stain is used to detect apoptotic DLA cells through fluorescence imaging of nuclear fragmentation and condensation exhibiting significant increase of apoptosis (70%) in PLGA-Tmx vis-a-vis pure drug (58%). Enhanced DNA cleavage potential, nuclear fragmentation and condensation in apoptotic cells confirm greater bioavailability of PLGA-Tmx as compared to pure Tmx in terms of receptor mediated endocytosis. Hence, the sustained release kinetics of PLGA-Tmx nanoparticles shows much better anticancer efficacy through enhanced DNA cleavage potential and nuclear fragmentation and, thereby, reveal a novel vehicle for the treatment of cancer.