Methotrexate-conjugated chitosan-grafted pH- and thermo-responsive magnetic nanoparticles for targeted therapy of ovarian cancer
Here, methotrexate (MTX)-conjugated multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) were engineered based on chitosan (CS) for targeted delivery of erlotinib (ETB). First, CS was modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate and maleic anhydride to prepare a polymerizable organo-soluble precursor. N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and itaconic acid (IA) as thermo- and pH-responsive monomers were grafted onto CS by free radical polymerization. Subsequently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) ferrofluid with prepared CS copolymer (CSC) was produced via an inclusion complex between carboxylic acid groups of CSC and MNPs. Finally, MTX was conjugated to amino groups of CS based on the structural similarity of MTX with folic acid as targeting ligand. The prepared MTX-CSC@MNPs were physiochemically characterized by different techniques, including FT-IR,