Evaluation of the antimicrobial and anticancer potential of a modified silver nanoparticle-impregnated carrier system

This study aimed to develop silver nanoparticles embedded in poly(ricinoleic acid)-poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene glycol) (AgNPsPRici-PMMA-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) containing caffeic acid (Caff) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) for treating infections and cancer in bone defects. The block copolymers were synthesised via free radical polymerisation. NPs were prepared using the solvent evaporation method and characterised by FTIR, HNMR, SEM, DSC, TGA, and DLS. Drug loading (LE), encapsulation efficiency (EE), antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and <i>in vitro</i> release studies were conducted. The NPs exhibited a size of 198 ± 2.89 nm, a narrow size distribution (PDI < 0.1), and a zeta potential of -27.5 ± 0.13 mV. The EE of Caff were 73 ± 0.09% w/w and 78 ± 0.32% w/w. Caff NPs showed prolonged release (69 ± 0.23% w/w), cytotoxicity with the cell viability of 66.85 ± 10.51% in SaOS cells, and antimicrobial zones ranging from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 4.2 ± 0.2 mm. TCH-Caff-AgNPsPRici-PMMA-PEG NPs exhibited promising therapeutic potential for infection and cancer treatment in bone defects.