Gold-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Functionalized to EGF and Ce6 Complexes for Breast Cancer Diagnoses and Therapy.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have some limitations in the physiological environment, however, a modification on their surface, such as a core-shell structure with gold (SPIONs@Au), can enhance their applicability. In this study, SPIONs were synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method, stabilized by sodium citrate, and followed by the gold-coating process. SPIONs@Au were functionalized with EGF-α-lipoic acid and chlorin e6 (Ce6)-cysteamine complexes, composing a Theranostic Nanoprobe (TP). The outcomes showed that the SPIONs@Au had changed in color to red and had an absorption band centered at 530 nm. The coating was verified in the TEM micrographs in bright and dark fields by EDS mapping, which indicated the presence of Au and Fe. The Ce6-cysteamine complex had a resonant band at 670 nm that enabled the diagnosis of biological samples using fluorescence analysis. In the measure of TNBC cell uptake, the maximum value of TP fluorescence intensity was obtained within 4 h of internalization. At 2 h, the incorporation of the TP in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei was observed, suggesting that it could be employed as a diagnostic marker. The PTT results showed significant percentages of apoptosis in the TNBC cell line, which confirms the efficacy of the TP.

Polymeric nanocapsules: A review on design and production methods for pharmaceutical purpose.

Polymeric nanocapsules have extensive application potential in medical, biological, and pharmaceutical fields, and, therefore, much research has been dedicated to their production. Indeed, production protocols and the materials used are decisive for obtaining the desired nanocapsules characteristics and biological performance. In addition to that, several technological strategies have been developed in the last decade to improve processing techniques and form more valuable nanocapsules. This review provides a guide to current methods for developing polymeric nanocapsules, reporting aspects to be considered when choosing appropriate materials, and discussing different ways to produce nanocapsules for superior performances.