Maryam Hashemi - Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zahra Haghgoo - School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Rezvan Yazdian-Robati - Molecular and Cell biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Sanaz Shahgordi - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Zahra Salmasi - Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Khalil Abnous - Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s): Mitoxantrone (MTX) is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of different cancers. However, prolonged treatment with MTX results in unwanted side effects and drug resistant cancer cells. Combination therapies and exploiting of targeted nanoparticles have the potential of improving the efficiency of drug treatment as well as reducing the side effects. Curcumin (CUR) is a biological molecules with anticancer property. In this study, we investigated whether targeted PLGA (Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid)–CUR nanoparticles (NPs) can reinforce the effect of MTX on breast cancer cells.Materials and Methods: PLGA NPs containing CUR targeted with AS۱۴۱۱ aptamer were prepared by single emulsion evaporation method. Physicochemical properties of NPs were investigated. The cytotoxicity of non-targeted and targeted NPs along with MTX was evaluated on MCF۷, ۴T۱ and L۹۲۹ cell lines. Results: The results showed that PLGA-CUR NPs were synthetized with an average encapsulation efficiency of ۶۶% with a mean size of ۱۸۶±۳.۲ nm. The drug release of curcumin from these NPs within ۷۲h was about ۵۹% in neutral medium and ۹۰% in acidic medium. Interestingly, the combined treatment with PLGA-CUR-Apt and MTX inhibited the cancer cell's proliferation significantly more than the non-targeted nanoparticles, CUR and MTX-treated group alone. Conclusion: These results suggest that targeted PLGA-CUR nanoparticles may consider as a potential therapeutic contender in improving the efficacy of MTX in Breast cancer therapy.

AS۱۴۱۱ aptamer, Breast Cancer, Curcumin, Mitoxantrone, Polymeric nanoparticles