Folate targeted PEGylated titanium dioxide nanoparticles as a nanocarrier for targeted paclitaxel drug delivery

A novel titanium dioxide nanocarrier was synthesized for targeted delivery of the anticancer drug, paclitaxel, by grafting folic acid (FA) onto the PEGylated titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Titanium dioxide is used in biomedical field for its stability and no toxicity characteristics. Titanium dioxide is one of the most promising nanoparticles (NPs) capable of a wide variety of applications in medicine and life science. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), when attached to the surface of the nanoparticles, increases the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. PEGylated nanocarriers evade the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Folic acid (FA) is used as the ligand to target folate receptors, which are found abundant in cancer cells. FA–PEG–TiO₂ nanoparticles when used as drug carriers have the ability to target cancer cells and also capable of evading the reticuloendothelial system. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized by wet chemical method. It was annealed at 450° for 3 h. XRD analysis confirms the formation of anatase titanium dioxide. Analyses by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that the nanoparticles had an average size of 12 nm and uniform size distribution. The PEGylation and folic acid grafting was confirmed by UV spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The study on the loading of anticancer drug paclitaxel revealed that the titanium dioxide nanocarrier possessed a considerably higher adsorption capability. In addition, the in vitro release profile of paclitaxel from FA–PEG–TiO₂ nanoparticles was characterized by an initial fast release followed by a sustained release phase.