Development and evaluation of folate-gelatin-poloxamer P407 copolymer nanogels for enhanced co-delivery of paclitaxel and curcumin in breast cancer therapy

The study focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel folate-gelatin-Poloxamer P407 (FA-Ge-P407) copolymer nanogel for the co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CUR) in breast cancer therapy. The study aims to address the limitations of PTX, such as poor water solubility and drug resistance in cancer cells, by combining it with CUR, known for its anti-cancer properties and ability to inhibit drug resistance mechanisms. The FA-Ge-P407 nanogel was synthesized through a multi-step process involving the conjugation of folic acid (FA) onto a gelatin-Poloxamer P407 copolymer, which was characterized by FT-IR and HNMR spectroscopy. The nanogel particles were designed to encapsulate PTX and CUR, with their size, surface charge, and morphology thoroughly characterized using TEM and DLS techniques. In vitro release studies demonstrated that the presence of CUR enhanced and sustained PTX release, particularly under acidic conditions. The cytotoxicity assessment on MCF-7 breast cancer cells indicated that the FA-Ge-P407/PTX/CUR formulation exhibited superior anticancer activity compared to free PTX and FA-Ge-P407/PTX alone. The results suggest that FA-Ge-P407 nanogels offer a promising strategy for targeted breast cancer therapy, leveraging the combined effects of PTX and CUR to overcome drug resistance and achieve sustained therapeutic outcomes. Further studies are recommended to explore the in vivo efficacy and clinical potential of this advanced drug delivery system.