Open Access

ARTICLE

Magnetic melamine cross-linked polystyrene-alt-malic anhydride copolymer: Synthesis, characterization, paclitaxel delivery, cytotoxic effects on human ovarian and breast cancer cells

RAZIEH MOMEN-MESGIN¹, JAFAR REZAIE^2,*, VAHID NEJATI¹, PEYMAN NAJAFI MOGHADAM³

1 Department of Biology, Urmia University, Urmia, 5756151818, Iran
2 Solid Tumor Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, 5714783734, Iran
3 Department of Chemistry, Urmia University, Urmia, 5756151818, Iran

* Corresponding Author: JAFAR REZAIE. Email:

Oncology Research 2025, 33(3), 665-674. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2024.054487

Received 29 May 2024; Accepted 13 September 2024; Issue published 28 February 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Due to systematic side effects, there is a growing interest in nanoparticle formulation of anticancer drugs. Here, we aimed to synthesize poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) cross-linked by melamine (PSMA/Me) and coated with magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄. In addition, we aimed to load paclitaxel (PTX) into PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄ for drug delivery and anticancer investigations. Methods: Novel PSMA/Me was synthesized via free radical copolymerization, coated with Fe₃O₄, and then used as a transporter for PTX delivery. Fabricated copolymer was characterized using SEM, TGA, and XRD techniques. Drug release rate and loading efficiency were investigated. Human ovarian cancer cells (Skov-3) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells) were incubated with the serial concentration of either free PTX or PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX for cell viability and IC₅₀ analysis for 24 and 48 h. Results: Characterization methods confirmed PSMA/Me copolymer formation. The results showed a significant encapsulation efficiency of 83%. The drug release analysis exhibited that PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX may be considered pH-sensitive nanocarriers. PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX reduced cell viability both dose and time-dependently (p < 0.05). IC₅₀ values of PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX were low when compared to free PTX either 24 or 48 h post-treatment. Conclusions: Our results indicated that PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX was more cytotoxic than PTX in both cancer cells. Findings indicated the potential of PSMA/Me/Fe₃O₄/PTX as an anticancer nanocarrier system.

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