Near-infrared mediated quantum dots and paclitaxel co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for cancer theragnostic

Timing is an important factor in cancer management. Theragnostic systems have benefit of improving patients' life-quality by expediting therapeutic decisions. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of co-loaded [quantum dots (CdTe/CdS/ZnS) and paclitaxel] NLC (nanostructured lipid carriers) as a parenteral multifunctional delivery system. The co-loaded NLC was prepared by emulsion-evaporation and low temperature-solidification method utilising glyceryl monostearate, oleic acid, and soya phosphatidylcholine as lipid matrix. In characterising the co-loaded NLC, physicochemical properties of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), morphology, encapsulation efficacy (EE) and drug loading (DL) were investigated. Moreover, in-vitro paclitaxel release profile, cytotoxicity, histopathological, in-vivo anti-tumour efficacy, and in-vivo and ex-vivo fluorescence optical imaging abilities of the co-loaded NLC were assessed. The mean particle size, PDI and ZP were reported to be 115.93 +/- 1.61 nm, 0.17 +/- 0.04 and -0.22 +/- 0.03 mV, respectively. The particles were spheroid-like in shape with relatively smooth surface. A higher EE (80.70 +/- 2.11%) and DL (4.68 +/- 0.04%) were recorded. The coloaded NLC exhibited a biphasic pattern of drug release. IC50 value was found to be 1.05 +/- 0.58 mu M. The tumour growth inhibition rate of 77.85% was registered. The in-vivo and ex-vivo imaging results indicated capability of the co-loaded NLC to specifically target and detect the H22 tumour. Tissues showed no significant cytoarchitectural differences. We can satisfactorily conclude that co-loaded NLC formulation can be qualified as a splendid parenteral drug delivery system foundation for cancer theragnostic. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.