A New Trend to Introduce a Biocompatible Drug Carrier Based on Immunoglobulin for Prolonged Release of Palladium (II) Complex as an Anticancer Agent: Drug Release and Cytotoxicity Assessment

Abstract

Severe side effects and low chemotherapy efficacy remain challenges in cancer treatment. Therefore, this research is aimed at investigating a colloidal drug nanocarrier based on immunoglobulin nanoparticles (IgGNPs) for sustained release of an anticancer agent. A novel palladium (II) complex (PBD) loaded to IgGNPs and its formation (PBD@IgGNP) was characterized by FTIR, DLS, and AFM techniques. The size of designed system was 797 ± 121 nm, with a particle size distribution and surface charge greater than those of IgGNP indicating the conjugation of PBD and IgGNP. The release behavior indicated that 33.66% of PBD and 12.76% of encapsulated PBD in IgGNP were released at 579 h, while carboplatin was completely released at 216 h. The release mechanism followed Korsmeyer–Peppas model and non-Fickian law. Other kinetic parameters of the release are also presented. Furthermore, MTT assay showed that IC₅₀ values of PBD and PBD@IgGNP on breast cancer cells, 4T1, were 0.75 mM while 78% of the cells were viable at the same concentration of carboplatin. DAPI, AO/EB, and PCR staining indicated that the apoptotic induction of PBD@IgGNP was greater than PBD. Moreover, in vivo results confirmed the apoptotic induction and inhibition of tumor growth in the presence of PBD@IgGNP. These valuable achievements proposed a potential nanocarrier to increase the apoptotic induction and effectiveness of anticancer drugs and decrease their side effects.