Synthesis and characterization of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles for potential hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe form of liver cancer that necessitates early diagnosis and treatment. While doxorubicin (Dox) is commonly used to treat HCC, it exhibits limited efficacy in reaching tumor cells and can lead to severe side effects, such as cardiac toxicity. To enhance the anti-cancer activity and selectivity of Dox towards HCC cells, our objective was to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles targeting the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), which is highly expressed in hepatocytes. Arabinogalactan exhibits potential as a versatile targeting molecule against ASGPR. The nanoparticles were synthesized through the co-precipitation of iron salts and chemically conjugated with arabinogalactan (AG) for receptor targeting. Characterization studies of the nanoparticles, including assessments of size, morphology, chemical structure, zeta potential, drug adsorption efficiency, drug release profiles, stability, and biocompatibility analysis were conducted. The nanoparticles exhibited a size of 30-35 nm, a zeta potential of -15 +/- 3.67, biocompatible, and a pH-dependent Dox release profile with a slower release rate at physiological pH. Storage stability analysis revealed that the nanoparticles remained stable for six months at +4 degrees C. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the potential of receptor-targeted magnetic nanoparticles for further research and development.