Novel electrospun fibers as carriers for delivering a biocompatible Sm() nanodrug for cancer therapy: fabrication, characterization, cytotoxicity and toxicity

The current study represents the successful fabrication and characterization of a Sm( iii ) nano complex based on 2-cyano- N ′-((4-oxo-4 H -chromen-3-yl)methylene)acetohydrazide ( CCMA ). The fibrous Sm( iii ) nanocomplex has been fabricated by the electrospinning technique. SEM analysis of the electrospun fibers has revealed that the fibers have a uniform structure and smooth surface without observing Sm( iii ) nanocomplex crystals, i.e. the Sm( iii ) nanocomplex has been well incorporated into the fibers. In vitro antitumor activity against two carcinogenic cell lines (HepG-2 and E.A.C.) as well as in vivo toxicity of pure Sm( iii ) nanocomplex and its electrospun fibers have been detected. The biological results have shown that there is a significant antitumor activity with low toxicity of the pure Sm( iii ) nanocomplex and its electrospun fibers with respect to different standard antitumor drugs. Also, the electrospun fibers recorded higher cytotoxicity (IC 50 = 0.1 μM (Hep-G); 0.09 μM (E.A.C)) and lower toxicity (LD 50 = 350 mg kg −1 ) than the pure ones. The in vitro release rate of the Sm( iii ) nanocomplex from electrospun fibers has also been detected. The results have shown that the burst releasing of the Sm( iii ) nanocomplex is about 22% after 1 h at the beginning, then a cumulative release increased gradually over the following hours. All results demonstrate the potential use of the Sm( iii ) nanocomplex as a potent antitumor drug and its electrospun fibers as superior drug carriers for the treatment of tumors. The current study represents the successful fabrication and characterization of a Sm( iii ) nano complex based on 2-cyano- N ′-((4-oxo-4 H -chromen-3-yl)methylene)acetohydrazide ( CCMA ).