Copolymer-Coated Au–Pt Nanomotors for Delivery of Disulfiram Prodrug

Researchers have been exploring the use of nanomotors powered by hydrogen peroxide for cancer treatment through targeted drug delivery. Asymmetric bimetallic nanorods made of platinum and gold have been found to navigate through the H2O2 environment quickly and effectively, making them a promising option for the delivery of drugs to specific areas. We developed a delivery system for the hydroxyethyl disulfiram (DSF–OH) anticancer prodrug using a bimetallic Au/Pt nanomotor that moves toward its target in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. A copolymer consisting of poly(polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)-co-poly acrylic acid was used to conjugate the drug. The conjugate was then attached to the nanomotor’s gold (Au) component using the sulfur moieties present in the DSF. The 1H NMR, 13C NMR, TGA, and FT-IR analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of the copolymer, whereas the SEM, EDX, XRD, and DLS analyses confirmed the production of the bimetallic nanomotor. Hydroxyethyl disulfiram (DSF–OH) was found to have different complex formation capabilities and time-dependent stabilities in comparison to disulfiram (DSF). It is suitable for prolonged drug release evaluations. UV–vis analysis evaluations showed around 34% of the released DSF–OH from the nanomotors. Particle tracking revealed a correlation between H2O2 concentration and particle motion, indicating that higher H2O2 concentration results in higher velocity and mean-square displacements (MSDs). MTT assays further validated superior selectivity and toxicity of drug-containing nanomotors toward MCF-7 breast cancer cells compared to L929 fibroblast cells. These findings have implications for drug delivery systems and provide insight into designing more efficient systems.