Carboplatin loaded protein nanoparticles exhibit improve anti-proliferative activity in retinoblastoma cells

Retinoblastoma, a common neoplasm of eye in children accounts about 9–10% of all paediatric cancer. Carboplatin (carbo) is preferred chemotherapeutic regimen. In this study the prospective of carboplatin loaded apotranferrin (Apo-nano-carbo) and lactoferrin (Lacto-nano-carbo) nanoparticles have been demonstrated for the treatment of retinoblastoma. Apo-nano-carbo and Lacto-nano-carbo were prepared by sol-oil method (as a patented formula) with size of 82–92 nm and 68–81 nm, hydrodynamic size were 142 ± 15 nm and 263 ± 20 nm, encapsulation efficiency were 50% ± 2.3 and 52% ± 3.9 respectively. Results of pH dependent-drug release and receptor-blocking assay showed that nanoparticles may deliver drug through receptor mediated endocytosis. The carboplatin loaded nanoparticles shows greater intracellular uptake, sustained retention and thus, high anti-proliferative activity (Apo-nano-carbo IC50 = 4.31 μg ml−1, Lacto-nano-carbo IC50 = 4.16 μg ml−1, Sol-carbo IC50 = 13.498 μg ml−1) into the retinoblastoma cells compared to their soluble counterpart.