An in vitro assessment of novel chitosan/bimetallic PtAu nanocomposites as delivery vehicles for doxorubicin

Aim: To synthesize and functionalize platinum (core)-gold (shell) bimetallic nanoparticles (PtAuBNps) with chitosan and doxorubicin to display favorable pharmacokinetics, biodegradability, biological activity and safety in vitro. Materials & methods: PtAuBNps and their drug nanocomposites were morphologically and physico-chemically characterized. Binding studies determined the efficiency and stability of the platform. In vitro release kinetics were evaluated under simulated environments, cytotoxicity profiles through MTT and Sulforodhamine B assays and apoptosis induction using the dual EtBr/AO staining. Results & discussion: The results obtained indicate that functionalized PtAuBNps displayed favorable physio-chemical attributes, high binding capabilities, pH-triggered drug release through zero-order release kinetics, cell-specific cytotoxicity and good colloidal stability. Conclusion: The positive attributes of this novel delivery system bodes well for future in vivo studies.