Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In the quest for sustainable and biocompatible materials, silk fibroin (SF), derived from natural silk, has emerged as a promising candidate for nanoparticle production. This study aimed to fabricate silk fibroin particles (SFPs) using a novel swirl mixer pr...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/1/95 |
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| author | Muhamad Hawari Mansor Zijian Gao Faith Howard Jordan MacInnes Xiubo Zhao Munitta Muthana |
| author_facet | Muhamad Hawari Mansor Zijian Gao Faith Howard Jordan MacInnes Xiubo Zhao Munitta Muthana |
| author_sort | Muhamad Hawari Mansor |
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| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: In the quest for sustainable and biocompatible materials, silk fibroin (SF), derived from natural silk, has emerged as a promising candidate for nanoparticle production. This study aimed to fabricate silk fibroin particles (SFPs) using a novel swirl mixer previously presented by our group, evaluating their characteristics and suitability for drug delivery applications, including magnetic nanoparticles and dual-drug encapsulation with curcumin (CUR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). <b>Methods</b>: SFPs were fabricated via microfluidics-assisted desolvation using a swirl mixer, ensuring precise mixing kinetics. Comprehensive physicochemical characterisation, including size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and secondary structure analysis, was conducted. Further, CUR/5-FU-loaded magnetic core SFPs were assessed for cytotoxicity in vitro using breast cancer cell lines and for biodistribution and targeting efficiency in a murine breast cancer model. <b>Results</b>: The swirl mixer produced SFPs with sizes below 200 nm and uniform distributions (PDI < 0.20) with size stability for up to 30 days. Encapsulation efficiencies were 37% for CUR and 82% for 5-FU, with sustained drug release profiles showing 50% of CUR and 70% of 5-FU released over 72 h. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained cytotoxic effects, and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in breast cancer cell lines, with minimal toxicity in non-cancerous cells. Cellular uptake assays confirmed efficient drug delivery to the cytoplasm. In vivo biodistribution studies revealed increased tumour-specific drug accumulation with magnetic guidance. Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining indicated enhanced tumour necrosis in treated groups compared to controls. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study underscores the utility of the swirl mixer for efficient and scalable fabrication of bio-inspired SFPs, supporting their application in targeted cancer drug delivery. These findings align with and advance previous insights into the use of microfluidics and desolvation methods, paving the way for improved therapeutic strategies in breast cancer treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a461b53fb744c6092fe926b0ec5d46e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a461b53fb744c6092fe926b0ec5d46e2025-01-24T13:45:56ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-01-011719510.3390/pharmaceutics17010095Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer TreatmentMuhamad Hawari Mansor0Zijian Gao1Faith Howard2Jordan MacInnes3Xiubo Zhao4Munitta Muthana5School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Barber House, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UKSchool of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Barber House, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UKSchool of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Barber House, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UKSchool of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UKSchool of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, ChinaSchool of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Barber House, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK<b>Background/Objectives</b>: In the quest for sustainable and biocompatible materials, silk fibroin (SF), derived from natural silk, has emerged as a promising candidate for nanoparticle production. This study aimed to fabricate silk fibroin particles (SFPs) using a novel swirl mixer previously presented by our group, evaluating their characteristics and suitability for drug delivery applications, including magnetic nanoparticles and dual-drug encapsulation with curcumin (CUR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). <b>Methods</b>: SFPs were fabricated via microfluidics-assisted desolvation using a swirl mixer, ensuring precise mixing kinetics. Comprehensive physicochemical characterisation, including size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and secondary structure analysis, was conducted. Further, CUR/5-FU-loaded magnetic core SFPs were assessed for cytotoxicity in vitro using breast cancer cell lines and for biodistribution and targeting efficiency in a murine breast cancer model. <b>Results</b>: The swirl mixer produced SFPs with sizes below 200 nm and uniform distributions (PDI < 0.20) with size stability for up to 30 days. Encapsulation efficiencies were 37% for CUR and 82% for 5-FU, with sustained drug release profiles showing 50% of CUR and 70% of 5-FU released over 72 h. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained cytotoxic effects, and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in breast cancer cell lines, with minimal toxicity in non-cancerous cells. Cellular uptake assays confirmed efficient drug delivery to the cytoplasm. In vivo biodistribution studies revealed increased tumour-specific drug accumulation with magnetic guidance. Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining indicated enhanced tumour necrosis in treated groups compared to controls. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study underscores the utility of the swirl mixer for efficient and scalable fabrication of bio-inspired SFPs, supporting their application in targeted cancer drug delivery. These findings align with and advance previous insights into the use of microfluidics and desolvation methods, paving the way for improved therapeutic strategies in breast cancer treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/1/95microfluidicsbio-inspired nanoparticlescurcumin5-fluorouracilmagnetic nanoparticlesbreast cancer |
| spellingShingle | Muhamad Hawari Mansor Zijian Gao Faith Howard Jordan MacInnes Xiubo Zhao Munitta Muthana Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment Pharmaceutics microfluidics bio-inspired nanoparticles curcumin 5-fluorouracil magnetic nanoparticles breast cancer |
| title | Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment |
| title_full | Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment |
| title_short | Efficient and Rapid Microfluidics Production of Bio-Inspired Nanoparticles Derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> Silkworm for Enhanced Breast Cancer Treatment |
| title_sort | efficient and rapid microfluidics production of bio inspired nanoparticles derived from i bombyx mori i silkworm for enhanced breast cancer treatment |
| topic | microfluidics bio-inspired nanoparticles curcumin 5-fluorouracil magnetic nanoparticles breast cancer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/1/95 |
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