Synthesis of magnetic chitosan/hyaluronic acid/κ-carrageenan nanocarriers for drug delivery.

The magnetic nanocarriers containing chitosan/hyaluronic acid complexed with κ -carrageenan were synthesized by solution method, as the drug delivery system. Doxorubicin (DOX) was used as the model drug. Characterization assessments were performed to identify the functional groups, determine the structure and morphology, and magnetic properties of nanodelivery system. Furthermore, their impacts on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-237 cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay. Analyses confirm polymers physical interaction, chemical bonding in the structure, moreover presence of spherical shape magnetic nanoparticles in the 100-150 nm range. The DOX loading was 74.1 ± 2.5 %. Results indicate that the drug loading was raised to 83.0 ± 2.2 % by increasing the amount of κ -carrageenan in specimens. The swelling of samples in the acidic environment (e.g. pH 5.5) was verified by the Dynamic Light Scattering analysis. Consequently, pH stimulus-responsive drug release in the sustained stream and a considerable amount of DOX release (84 ± 3.1 %) was detected as compared to a higher pH medium (27 ± 1.5 % at pH 7.4). According to the MTT assay results, MNPs showed no inhibitory effect on both cell lines. Also, 10 and 15 μg/ml of MNPs-DOX was considered as IC 50 value on MDA-MB-237 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The DOX 25 μg/ml caused 50 % antiproliferative activity in both cell lines. • Magnetic chitosan/hyaluronic acid/ κ -carrageenan drug delivery is synthesized. • The drug carrier system benefits from a pH-sensitive characteristic. • Doxorubicin is used as a model drug for loading into the nanocarrier. • Increasing κ -carrageenan concentration is effective and improves drug loading. • At acidic environment drug release is promising that indicate enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]