Abstract

Breast cancer is a malignancy that affects mostly females and is among the most lethal types of cancer. The ligand-functionalized nanoparticles used in the nano-drug delivery system offer enormous potential for cancer treatments. This work devised a promising approach to increase drug loading efficacy and produce sustained release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Ganoderic acid (GA) as model drugs for breast cancer. Chitosan, aptamer, and carbon quantum dot (CS/Apt/COQ) hydrogels were initially synthesized as a pH-sensitive and biocompatible delivery system. Then, CS/Apt/COQ NPs loaded with 5-FU-GA were made using the W/O/W emulsification method. FT-IR, XRD, DLS, zeta potentiometer, and SEM were used to analyze NP's chemical structure, particle size, and shape. Cell viability was measured using MTT assays in vitro using the MCF-7 cell lines. Real-time PCR measured cell apoptotic gene expression. XRD and FT-IR investigations validated nanocarrier production and revealed their crystalline structure and molecular interactions. DLS showed that nanocarriers include NPs with an average size of 250.6 nm and PDI of 0.057. SEM showed their spherical form, and zeta potential studies showed an average surface charge of +37.8 mV. pH 5.4 had a highly effective and prolonged drug release profile, releasing virtually all 5-FU and GA in 48 h. Entrapment efficiency percentages for 5-FU and GA were 84.7±5.2 and 80.2 %±2.3, respectively. The 5-FU-GA-CS-CQD-Apt group induced the highest cell death, with just 57.9 % of the MCF-7 cells surviving following treatment. 5-FU and GA in CS-CQD-Apt enhanced apoptotic induction by flow cytometry. 5-FU-GA-CS-CQD-Apt also elevated Caspase 9 and downregulated Bcl2. Accordingly, the produced NPs may serve as pH-sensitive nano vehicles for the controlled release of 5-FU and GA in treating breast cancer.