Preparation of Hyaluronic Acid-Polycaprolactone Based Polymersome for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin to CD44+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: In Vitro Evaluation

Background and Aim: Polymersomes are polymeric vesicles possess coreshellconstruction which confers this flexibility to control their functions,properties, and structure. Numerous small and large molecules can beloaded into the hydrophobic bilayer and hydrophilic core. Therefore,polymersomes are increasingly being investigated as carriers for drugdelivery and imaging probes. In this research, we synthesized hyaluronicacid-polycaprolactone copolymer in order to prepare self-assembled polymersomes which are loaded with doxorubicin to target non-smallcell lung cancer.Methods: The nanoparticles were produced by the nanoprecipitationmethod. HA-PCL was dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) anddoxorubicin was dissolved in distilled water. The polymer mixturewas added dropwise to a stirring water. After 2h stirring in 50°C, themixture was dialyzed by float-A-lyzer (Mw=8-10 kDa) for 6h and thenfreeze-dried to achieve the final powder formulation. Determination ofparticle sizes and polydispersities, drug content, DSC and SEM weredone. The in vitro differential cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded HA-PCL nanopolymersomes(HA-PCL@DOX) in comparison with free DOX on A549cells (CD44+ cells) was evaluated.Results: Herein, we developed HA-PCL DOX-loaded nano-polymersomesfor targeted delivery against A549 cells as models of NSCLC. Our findingsdemonstrated that HA-PCL@DOX NPs increased the cytotoxicity of theDOX payload as compared with free DOX (P<0.05) in A549 cells.Conclusion: Overall, it was demonstrated that HA-PCL nanoparticlescould be studied as a potential carrier for further research of cancertherapy.

Keywords:

Hyaluronic Acid , Polycaprolactone , Polymersome , Doxorubicin , A549 cells