I have polymeric nanoparticles loaded with drug. I want to do cytotoxicity test. However, what concentration of drug, nanoparticles, polymer should I take? What will be my basis?
If possible, look at what others have published the IC50 value to be for the specific cell line and drug you are using (and duration of incubation). Use this as a general guide/starting point, and construct a dose-response curve that spans the IC50 value, with concentrations above and below it. At the same time, treat cells with the same concentration of blank (no drug) nanoparticles as that used in your dose-response curve such that the effect of the polymeric nanoparticles themselves can be differentiated from the effect of the drug.
Sounds like a plan. I have got papers but was not sure if that woul be the best way. Thank you for your suggestion.
The differences between in vitro activity of pure drug and nanoencapsulated one may come from slow release of the drug, lack of cell permeation of either the drug or nanoparticles, toxic properties of nanoparticles. First You need to know the drug release rate from Your nanoparticles, You can close their suspension in the 20kDa cut size membrane (contains nanoparticles, release drug) to measure the release rate. Then You should compare in vitro activity of pure drug, encapsulated drug and empty nanoparticles as IC50. You can also check in vitro activity of the drug released from nanoparticles on the membrane (at known concentration, check if released drug remains active). You should check various exposition times of nanoparticles and pure drug on cells. Slow release of drug from nanoparticles may slow down the toxic effect, so You should also compare pure and encapsulated drug in few time intervals (24, 48 and 72 h, depending on the measured release rate). From my experience it comes that encapsulated drug is always less active then free one, due to slower release from nanoparticles, unless free drug is unable to penetrate cell membrane. You should also bear in mind that real advantages of drug nanoencapsulation are visible during animal and human trials. They come from much higher concentration in the cancer area, we can easily obtain 8 – 10 times higher concentration of the encapsulated drug in the tumor as compared to the same dose of free drug.
Good Luck…
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Drugs