Targeted delivery of doxorubicin by magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles armed with mucin-1 aptamer

Distinctive physicochemical features make mesoporous silica magnetic nanoparticles (SPION@SiO2) as a multifunctional nanosystem (NS) for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In the present study, we engineered the mucin-1 (MUC-1) conjugated SPION@SiO2 (SPION@SiO2-MUC-1) for the targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) to the breast cancer cells. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesised using thermal decomposition technique, and then, coated with mesoporous silica to modify their biocompatibility and reduce undesired cytotoxic effects. Subsequently, DOX was loaded onto the silica porous structures, which was then nanoparticles (NPs) grafted with 5′-amine-modified MUC-1 aptamers. Transmission electron microscopy and particle size analysis by differential light scattering exhibited spherical and monodisperse NPs with a size range of 5–27 nm. The FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the surface modification of the engineered NS. The surface area and pore size of the SPION@SiO2-COOH NSs were calculated by BJH and BET calculations. The MTT assay revealed higher cytotoxicity of MUC-1 grafted SPION@SiO2 NSs in the MUC-1-positive MCF-7 cells as compared to the control MUC-1-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. The flow cytometry analysis of the SPION@SiO2-MUC-1 NSs revealed a higher uptake as compared to the non-targeted nanocomposite (NC) in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, the engineered SPION@SiO2-MUC-1 NS is proposed to serve as an effective multifunctional targeted nanomedicine/theranostics against MUC-1 overexpressing cancer cells.