Tri-layered Polycaprolactone/Taxol/Gelatin/5-FU Nanofibers Against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Nanofibers prepared by the electrospinning process are good candidates for the local delivery of anticancer drugs. In the present study, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Paclitaxel (Taxol) anticancer drugs were loaded into the mono and tri-layered polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin (Gel) electrospun nanofibers. The performance of nanofibers was investigated for the controlled release of anticancer drugs against MCF-7 breast cancer cell death. The drug loading efficiency of Taxol and 5-FU from tri-layered nanofiber samples (PCL/Gel-PCL/Taxol /Gel/5-FU-PCL/Gel nanofibers) was 97 and 98%, respectively. These amounts for mono-layered nanofibers (PCL/Taxol and Gel/5-FU nanofibers) were 85 and 87% for Taxol and 5-FU, respectively. The controlled release of anti-cancer drugs from mono- and tri-layered nanofibers containing 1.5 mg Taxol and 1.5 mg 5-FU was obtained within 36 and 72 h, respectively. By increasing the content of Taxol and 5-FU to 3.0 mg in tri-layered nanofibers, the controlled release time was decreased to 60 h. 5-FU and Taxol release data were best described using the Korsmeyer-peppas model pharmacokinetic model. More than 98% of L929 fibroblast cells survived in the presence of the PCL/Gel nanofibers, which indicated good biocompatibility of the nanofibers. The maximum cytotoxicity of tri-layered PCL/Taxol /Gel/5-FU nanofibers containing 3 mg 5-FU and 3 mg Taxol was 75 & PLUSMN; 3% against MCF-7 breast cancer cells after 72 h. The results showed that tri-layered nanofibers are a more efficient carrier for drug loading and treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells than mono-layered nanofibers.

Automated summary

Nanofibers prepared by electrospinning process were loaded with 5-Fluorouracil and Paclitaxel anticancer drugs and investigated for their controlled release against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The tri-layered nanofibers showed higher drug loading efficiency and shorter controlled release time compared to mono-layered nanofibers. The results demonstrated that tri-layered nanofibers are a more efficient carrier for drug loading and treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.