Microwave functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube as nanocarrier for the delivery of anticancer drug cisplatin: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

We have designed a drug delivery system for the anti-cancer drug cisplatin (CP) based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). Oxidized SWCNTs (OX-SWCNT) were prepared by using the microwave method. Similarly, both oxidized and non-oxidized SWCNTs were non-covalently wrapped by two phospholipids (1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)2000], and 1,2-dioctadeca noyl-sn-glycero-3-Phospho-1-rac-glycerol phospholipids (PL)). The final products were highly water soluble and had an ultra high surface area. The CP molecules were then attached to the PL-OX-SWCNT and PL-SWCNT for possible targeted cancer therapy (COM1 and COM2, respectively). Oxidized and non-oxidized supermolecular SWCNTs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analyzer, Fourier transforms infrared spectra, UV-visible spectrophotometry and atomic absorption. Finally, the cytotoxicity of formulations against C26 colon carcinoma cells was assessed in vitro and their anti-tumor activity were evaluated in BALB/c mice bearing C26 colon carcinoma and a considerable increase in the therapeutic activity of the COM1 compared to COM2 and free CP was recorded. These results strongly suggest that the microwave functionalized SWCNTs wrapped by appropriate phospholipids can serve as a highly promising drug delivery platform for CP and cancer therapy.