Biodegradable methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (lactide) nanoparticles for controlled delivery of dacarbazine: Preparation, characterization and anticancer activity evaluation

Dacarbazine (DTIC) loaded or blank methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (lactide) (MPEG-PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by modified w/o/w double emulsion-solvent evaporation method through ultrasonic processor without any additional additives. The hemolytic test and cytotoxicity test of blank MPEG-PLA NPs demonstrated that the obtained drug delivery system is safety. Its particle size distribution, morphology, drug loading, drug release profile and anticancer activity in vitro were studied in detail. The small sized nanoparticles (NPs) with a particle size of 144.2±7.8 nm in diameter and drug encapsulation efficiency of 70.1±2.3% are easy to be dispersed in water and suitable for vascular administration. The drug release pattern was biphasic with a fast release rate followed by a slow one. The in vitro and in vivo study results demonstrated that compared with free DTIC, DTIC loaded MPEG-PLA NPs could induce more apoptosis of cancer cell and showed enhanced antitumor activity. The described DTIC loaded MPEG-PLA nanoparticle in this paper might be a novel potential formulation for metastatic melanoma therapy.   Key words: Malignant melanoma, dacarbazine, methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (lactide), double emulsion and solvent evaporation method, nanoparticles, anticancer activity.