Abstract

The preparation process of artesunate-loaded polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether-polylactic acid-glycolic acid affinity block copolymer (mPEG-PLGA) nanoparticles and its growth inhibition on human leukemia K562 cells were investigated. METHODS: Artesunate mPEG-PLGA nanoparticles (Art-Nps) were prepared by modified self-emulsification method. The morphology of nanoparticles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The particle size distribution and zeta potential were measured by laser scattering particle size analyzer. The drug loading, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release of Art-Nps were determined by chromatography. The proliferation and apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cells were observed by MTT assay and Hoechst staining. RESULTS: Art-Nps is a spherical solid particle with smooth surface, average particle size (156.70+/-1.01) nm, zeta potential of -(26.23+/-1.86) mV, average drug loading (14.51+/-0.20)%, average package. The sealing rate was (86.51+/-0.50)%, and the in vitro release law accorded with the Higuchi equation: Q=4.11t 1/2+27.05, R2=0.98. MTT assay showed that Art-Nps inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells in a time-dose-dependent manner, and the inhibition rate exceeded the artesunate-treated group after 72h, and sustained release. The number of cells was observed after cultured with different concentrations of Art-Nps for 48h. Significantly reduced, cell size is different, irregular shape, high magnification can be seen in the nucleus pyknosis, agglutination, and apoptotic bodies, and increased apoptotic bodies with increasing concentration.