Dox-loaded TPU-PLGA nanoparticles embedded chitosan hydrogel formulation as an effective anti-cancer therapy

Abstract

Abstract Recently, Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based polymeric nanosystems are gaining a lot of attention as drug carriers for cancer treatment. However, the degradation of PLGA-based systems through bulk erosion induces systemic toxicity and is quite unfavorable, thus signifying the need for a controlled drug release system. In this perspective, the present study involves the synthesis of a novel thermoplastic polyurethane-polylactic-co-glycolic acid (TPU-PLGA) copolymer. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized copolymer. The novel copolymer was further evaluated for encapsulation of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). To facilitate more sustained drug delivery, Dox-loaded TPU-PLGA nanoparticles (TPU-PLGA-Dox NPs) were embedded in a chitosan (CTP-Dox NPs) hydrogel which protected the embedded NPs and aided in additional engineering flexibility. Also, the drug release profiles showed stable and pH-responsive drug release from the CTP-Dox NPs based-hydrogel reservoir system. Furthermore, the cell viability assay and internalization studies were performed for the CTP-Dox NPs hydrogel along with native Dox and TPU-PLGA-Dox NPs. The novel CTP-Dox NPs hydrogel system has a lot of potential for improving the overall therapeutic performance of anti-cancer treatments by prolonging the sustained release of the drug.