Development and evaluation of optimized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for targeted drug delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

Our research described in this paper focuses on the development and evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for targeted drug delivery of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). MIPs were synthesized using free radical polymerization and characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The MIP exhibited enhanced surface area (210.56 m²/g) and mesoporosity, as confirmed by BET analysis, enabling high drug binding efficiency. The results demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (82 %) and specific binding affinity for 5-FU, as confirmed by Scatchard analysis. In-vitro release studies revealed sustained drug release profiles at physiological (pH 7.4) and tumor-like (pH 5.5) conditions, with the MIPs exhibiting superior performance as compared to non-imprinted polymers (NIPs). Stability testing confirmed robust drug retention over three months. The co-localization studies demonstrated that over 80 % of MIP-5-FU successfully localized within lysosomes of both MCF-7 and HCT-116 cancer cells, highlighting its effective cellular uptake and targeting. Additionally, the internalization kinetics revealed a time-dependent increase in fluorescence intensity in both cell lines, with MCF-7 cells showing a higher rate of uptake compared to HCT-116, suggesting a faster internalization of MIP-5-FU in breast cancer cells These findings highlight the potential of MIPs as efficient carriers for targeted and controlled drug delivery in cancer therapy.