siRNA delivery, breast cancer therapy, nanoparticles, chitosan microspheres, Au-SPIONs, dual-responsive system, drug encapsulation, targeted drug delivery, controlled release, polymer-based drug carriers
Abstract
The development of an advanced dual-responsive drug delivery system is critical in addressing the limitations of conventional cancer treatments, such as non-specific adverse effects and poor targeting. This study explores the use of gold-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-SPIONs) integrated with chitosan microspheres for the targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to breast cancer sites. The formulation's performance is assessed by examining encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, release kinetics, and dual-responsive characteristics under both pH and magnetic stimuli. Experimental analysis demonstrates that Au-SPIONs significantly enhance siRNA encapsulation, medium molecular weight chitosan optimizes drug loading, and controlled crosslinker concentration regulates sustained release. The dual-responsive nature of the system provides enhanced targeting precision compared to traditional delivery systems. These findings suggest that this innovative formulation holds promise for improving the efficacy of siRNA-based breast cancer therapies, although further clinical studies are necessary to validate its real-world applicability.
