Fabrication, Characterization and Therapeutic Evaluation of Fluoxetine‐Dextran Nanoparticles

Abstract In recent times conventional dosage forms face a number of challenges, i. e., adverse effects, low absorption of drugs, and delivery at the targeted sites for desired therapeutic effect. In the current study, dextran‐fluoxetine nanoconjugates were prepared, characterized, and evaluated for therapeutic efficacy. Dextran was oxidized via aldehyde functional group subsequently conjugated with fluoxetine using Schiff based reaction. Characterization techniques like ultra‐violet spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed successful drug‐polymer conjugation. Nanoconjugates size and shape was assessed using dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy respectively, whereas thermo‐gravimetric analysis revealed the stability. Drug loading was found 21 %, whereas the drug release for 48 h showed 28 % release at pH=5 and 16 % at pH=7.4. Anticancer activity of the nanoparticles was assessed using HeLa cell lines and revealed 99.5 % cellular inhibition whereas cytotoxic assay was done using healthy cell line 3T3 showing 14.6 % cell inhibition. This study showed controlled release of drugs from the nanoparticles in the simulated conditions and has potential to reduce associated adverse effects. It is hypothesized that these nanoparticles may find application in anticancer drugs‐controlled release with reduced toxicities.