Engineering transferrin and epirubicin onto magnetic nanoparticles for targeting drug delivery through transferrin receptors

Cancer is a serious health problem worldwide. new nanomedicines are being developed for targeting drug delivery through receptor endocytosis process of the cell. the expression of transferrin receptors is increased in cancer cells. transferrin and epirubicin were attached with magnetic nanoparticles (mnps) to deliver anti-cancer drug at target site (in vitro). maglisa was used to confirm the bindings of transferrin and epirubicin with mnps by using anti-transferrin and antiepirubicin antibodies. the mnp-transferrin-epirubicin conjugates are stable in water and carbonate buffer. 10% to 11% drug was released at ph 7.4 and in human serum but 37% to 38% drug released was observed at ph 5.5. after 96 hours,comparatively more killing effect was observed on hela cells (14.7%) than on normal b cells (9.8%). the binding of conjugates with hela cells and b cells was observed 56.83% and 39.33% respectively. the binding was confirmed (in situ) by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase microscopy using anti-epirubicin and anti-transferrin antibodies respectively. hela cells and b-cells treated with anti-hela cells and anti-b-cells antibodies were devoid of peroxidase reaction product which indicated that the receptors were masked with antibodies. transferrin-mnps conjugates may be considered good for targeting drug delivery. copyright 2016 zoological society of pakistan.