Facile Synthesis of a Nano Redox-Sensitive Castor Oil-Based Amphiphilic Macromolecule: An Assorted Anticancer Carrier in Doxorubicin Delivery

Background: Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide, killing more than 8 million people every year. The primary treatment is still restricted to conventional chemotherapy; however, this method has some limitations. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) provide the possibility to overcome these defects. Objective: The main object of the present report is to introduce the first amphiphilic macromolecule deduced from vegetable oil as a stimulus-responsive drug delivery system. Methods: Initially, maleated castor oil was synthesized from the reaction of castor oil with 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide. In the last step, a thiol-ene click reaction was carried out under thermal conditions. The structure of the polyol was characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average size, morphology, CMC, drug loading drug release properties, and cytotoxicity of the nanocarrier were screened by different analyses. Results: The dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy revealed an appropriate size (about 66 nm) and spherical morphology of nanoparticles, respectively. Doxorubicin was encapsulated in polyol with a drug loading efficiency of 83%. in vitro MTT assays confirmed that the micelles are biocompatible and nontoxic, while drug-loaded micelles possess high antitumor activity in cancer cells. Conclusion: Some advantages of this carrier are its uncomplicated synthesis, stimulus responsiveness based on vegetable oil, biocompatibility, good stability, and acceptable critical micelle concentration.