Folic acid-conjugated magnetic carbon nanotube nanocarriers for targeted delivery of mitoxantrone

Aydın B., Bozoğlu S., Yavuz N., Güner F. S.

NANOTECHNOLOGY, vol.36, no.30, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 30
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1088/1361-6528/aded95
  • Journal Name: NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: folic acid, magnetic nanocarrier, mitoxantrone, single-walled carbon nanotubes, targeted drug delivery
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Dual or multi-targeted delivery systems are a crucial aspect of optimal cancer treatment. These systems minimize side effects while maximizing therapeutic efficiency. With this motivation, in this study, we developed a dual-targeted nanocarrier system by modifying bovine serum albumin-coated magnetic carbon nanotubes (mCNT-BSA) with folic acid (FA) to enhance both magnetic and receptor-mediated targeting. The novel carrier was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, and thermogravimetric analysis. Results confirmed successful FA conjugation and sufficient magnetic properties (14.7 emu g-1) for external guidance. The system demonstrated a high mitoxantrone (MTO) loading capacity (120 mu g mg-1) and pH-sensitive release behavior, supporting drug release in acidic tumor microenvironments. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed reduced toxicity of mCNT-BSA-FA/MTO on the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line to free MTO. These findings suggest that mCNT-BSA-FA is a promising nanocarrier system for dual-targeted and controlled MTO delivery.