Development and characterization of hyaluronic acid–anchored PLGA nanoparticulate carriers of doxorubicin

A novel hyaluronic acid-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (HA-PEG-PLGA) copolymer was synthesized and characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The nanoparticles of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded HA-PEG-PLGA were prepared and compared with monomethoxy(polyethylene glycol) (MPEG)-PLGA nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were prepared using drug-to-polymer ratios of 1:1 to 1:3. Drug-to-polymer ratio of 1:1 is considered the optimum formulation on the basis of low particle size and high entrapment efficiency. The optimized nanoparticles were characterized for morphology, particle size measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffractometer measurement, drug content, hemolytic toxicity, subacute toxicity, and in vitro DOX release. The in vitro DOX release study was performed at pH 7.4 using a dialysis membrane. HA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles were able to sustain the release for up to 15 days. The tissue distribution studies were performed with DOX-loaded HA-PEG-PLGA and MPEG-PLGA nanoparticles after intravenous (IV) injection in Ehrlich ascites tumor–bearing mice. The tissue distribution studies showed a higher concentration of DOX in the tumor as compared with MPEG-PLGA nanoparticles. The in vivo tumor inhibition study was also performed after IV injection of DOX-loaded HA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles up to 15 days. DOX-loaded HA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles were able to deliver a higher amount of DOX as compared with MPEG-PLGA nanoparticles. The DOX-loaded HA-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles reduced tumor volume significantly as compared with MPEG-PLGA nanoparticles.