Docetaxel-Loaded, Dipeptide-Functionalized Γ-Fe2o3 Magnetic Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Targeting To Prostate Cancer

Abstract

A new delivery system was designed and synthesized to increase the efficiency of docetaxel. For this aim, γ-Fe2O3 was synthesized in order to give the nanoparticle the ability to be magnetic targeted. It was functionalized with citric acid to prevent clumping and maintain stability. To increase the interaction efficiency between the delivery system and the drug, leucine–glycine dipeptide and an amphiphilic polymer, Pluronic F127, were attached to the nanoparticle. Characterization studies were carried out with XRD, ICP–MS, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), TEM, and zeta potential to elucidate the structure of this carrier system. After docetaxel was bound to the synthesized carrier, its therapeutic effect was measured by spectrophotometric and flow cytometric methods (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT], reactive oxygen species [ROS], and apoptosis). Docetaxel-bound nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability of the tumor cell compared to the healthy cell in a dose-dependent manner, especially at 24 (50.14 ± 13.25 to 22.32 ± 5.51 at 100 µg/mL) h and 48 (41.46 ± 2.22 to 18.80 ± 2.81 at 100 µg/mL) h. The rate of apoptosis and ROS in the negative sample increased from 2.7% to 15.4% and from 9.6% to 74.7%, respectively, as a result of treatment with 15 µg/mL γ-Fe2O3/C/LG/F127/Dotx. Thus, it can be said that the synthesized carrier system is a suitable candidate for the improvement of docetaxel transport. © 2025 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.