Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle-Loaded Liposome-Based Nanoarchitectonics for Cancer Management: In Vitro Drug Release Analysis

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles act as antitumor agents because of their antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. The present study aims to develop silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes for the effective management of cancer. Silver nanoparticle-encapsulated liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method coupled with sonication. The prepared liposomes were characterized by DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering analysis), FESEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope), and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy). The in vitro drug release profile of the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes was carried out using the dialysis bag method and the drug release profile was validated using various mathematical models. A high encapsulation efficiency of silver nanoparticle-loaded liposome was observed (82.25%). A particle size and polydispersity index of 172.1 nm and 0.381, respectively, and the zeta potential of -21.5 mV were recorded. FESEM analysis revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles in the size range of 80-97 nm. The in vitro drug release profile of the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes was carried out using the dialysis bag method in three different pHs: pH 5.5, pH 6.8, and pH 7.4. A high silver nanoparticle release was observed in pH 5.5 which corresponds to the mature endosomes of tumor cells; 73.32 ± 0.68% nanoparticle was released at 72 h in pH 5.5. Among the various mathematical models analyzed, the Higuchi model was the best-fitted model as there is the highest value of the correlation coefficient which confirms that the drug release follows the diffusion-controlled process. From the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, it was confirmed that the drug release is based on anomalous non-Fickian diffusion. The results indicate that the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes can be used as an efficient drug delivery carrier to target cancer cells of various types.

Keywords: Higuchi model; cancer cells; drug release; dynamic light scattering; liposomes; mathematical models; release kinetics; silver nanoparticles; targeted delivery.

Scheme 1

Schematic representation of the green synthesized silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes and their in vitro drug release analysis using various mathematical models.

Figure 1

(a) UV–visible, and (b) XRD analysis of silver nanoparticles.

Figure 2

Encapsulation efficiency of silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes.

Figure 3

(a) Particle size of the silver nanoparticle-loaded liposome, and (b) zeta potential of the silver nanoparticle loaded liposome.

Figure 4

FESEM image of (a) silver nanoparticles and (b) silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes.

Figure 5

(a) FTIR spectrum of blank liposomes (lecithin and cholesterol), and (b) FTIR spectrum of silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes.

Figure 6

In vitro drug release profile of silver nanoparticle-loaded liposomes (the values are represented as ±SD for triplicates in each category).

Figure 7

(a) Zero-order release kinetics for pH 5.5, (b) zero-order release kinetics for pH 6.8, and (c) zero-order release kinetics for pH 7.4.

Figure 8

(a) First order release kinetics for pH 5.5, (b) first order release kinetics for pH 6.8, and (c) first order release kinetics for pH 7.4.

Figure 9

(a) Higuchi drug release kinetics for pH 5.5, (b) Higuchi drug release kinetics for pH 6.8, and (c) Higuchi drug release kinetics for pH 7.4.

Figure 10

(a) Korsmeyer–Peppas drug release kinetics for pH 5.5, (b) Korsmeyer–Peppas drug release kinetics for pH 6.8, and (c) Korsmeyer–Peppas drug release kinetics for pH 7.4.

Figure 11

(a) Hixson–Crowell drug release kinetics for pH 5.5, (b) Hixson–Crowell drug release kinetics for pH 6.8, and (c) Hixson–Crowell drug release kinetics for pH 7.4.