Designed dual-functional surface-modified copper-iron sulfide nanocarrier for anticancer drug delivery

Nanocarriers that respond to the magnetic field are explored for their potential to deliver anticancer drugs and enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. In this paper, we report NIR-II radiation-absorbing and magnetically-responsive rod-shaped CuFe2S3 nanoparticles (NPs) as drug delivery agents. The NPs are characterized by employing imaging and spectroscopic techniques. The CuFe2S3 NPs are coated with a synthesized poly-β-cyclodextrin polymer. The size and shape of the NPS are determined. The transmission electron microscopic imaging reveals the rod shapes of the NPs. The magnetic properties are studied and superparamagnetic behavior is observed. The chemotherapeutic drug, i.e, camptothecin (CPT) is loaded on the nanocarrier. The polymer-coated NPs are observed to possess an excellent CPT adsorption of about 98%. The in-vitro CPT-release kinetics is investigated for about 320 h. The nanocarrier is loaded with CPT and tested for anticancer potential against breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. In addition, the cell inhibition mechanism is studied and the apoptotic extent is elaborated. The performance of the poly-CD-coated CuFe2S3 NPs as a CPT-carrier is explored in detail and discussed. [Display omitted]