AS1411 conjugated magnetic-based poly N-isopropyl acrylamide nanoparticles for delivery of erlotinib to prostate cancer cells

The present study expanded the magnetic pH-dependent, and nucleolin receptor-targeted nano-drug delivery system consists of synthesized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (PNIPAM) with aptamer AS1411 to deliver the erlotinib (ERL) to prostate cancer (PC) cells. Their properties were characterized using different techniques. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL) were found to be about 34% and 85%, respectively. The characterization studies disclosed that formulated SPION-PNIPAM/ERL@AS1411 nanoparticles (NPs) were spherical with an average particle size of 97.8 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.03, and the zeta potential of −2 mV. The flow cytometry and cell viability assay results disclosed that SPION-PNIPAM/ERL@AS1411 NPs operated cancer cell death via the pH-sensitive release of ERL. The conjugation of the AS1411 modified the cellular uptake of ERL as proved by cellular sensing fluorescence. Therefore, the present study revealed that the SPION-PNIPAM/ERL@AS1411 NPs improved the treatment effect of ERL in PC via the nucleolin-targeted drug release.