Ruthenium-based core-shell nanoparticles with exceptional in vitro biocompatibility

Abstract

The current study demonstrates design preparation and characterization of biocompatible hybrid ruthenium core-shell nanoparticles (RuNPs) coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyoxyethylene stearate (POES). The resulting RuNPs were loaded with doxorubicin, as model anticancer drug. Resulting complex has an exceptional stability in physiological conditions. The cytotoxic effects of the complex were tested using cell lines representing breast and ovarian cancers and neuroblastoma. Although bare RuNPs had only negligible cytotoxicity, RuPDox caused an enhancement of doxorubicin cytotoxicity when compared to free doxorubicin. RuPDox promoted significantly increased stability of doxorubicin in human plasma and pronounced hemocompatibility assayed on human red blood cells. Results demonstrate that biocompatible RuNPs could have a great potential as versatile nanoplatform to enhance efficiency of anticancer therapy.