A New Trend to Introduce a Biocompatible Drug Carrier Based on Immunoglobulin for Prolonged Release of Palladium (II) Complex as an Anticancer Agent: Drug Release and Cytotoxicity Assessment

ABSTRACT Severe side effects and low chemotherapy efficacy remain challenges in cancer treatment. Therefore, this research is aimed at investigating a colloidal drug nanocarrier based on immunoglobulin nanoparticles (IgGNPs) for sustained release of an anticancer agent. A novel palladium (II) complex (PBD) loaded to IgGNPs and its formation (PBD@IgGNP) was characterized by FTIR, DLS, and AFM techniques. The size of designed system was 797 ± 121 nm, with a particle size distribution and surface charge greater than those of IgGNP indicating the conjugation of PBD and IgGNP. The release behavior indicated that 33.66% of PBD and 12.76% of encapsulated PBD in IgGNP were released at 579 h, while carboplatin was completely released at 216 h. The release mechanism followed Korsmeyer–Peppas model and non‐Fickian law. Other kinetic parameters of the release are also presented. Furthermore, MTT assay showed that IC 50 values of PBD and PBD@IgGNP on breast cancer cells, 4T1, were 0.75 mM while 78% of the cells were viable at the same concentration of carboplatin. DAPI, AO/EB, and PCR staining indicated that the apoptotic induction of PBD@IgGNP was greater than PBD. Moreover, in vivo results confirmed the apoptotic induction and inhibition of tumor growth in the presence of PBD@IgGNP. These valuable achievements proposed a potential nanocarrier to increase the apoptotic induction and effectiveness of anticancer drugs and decrease their side effects.