¹Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University, Bornova 35040 Izmir, Türkiye
²Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Tepebasi 26210 Eskisehir, Türkiye DOI : 10.29228/jrp.254 Using the nanoprecipitation process, chitosan coated poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) based polymeric nanoparticle formulations of two molecular weights were developed as a possible cancer cell diagnostic agent. Photon correlation spectroscopy was used to measure the particle size, distribution [polydispersity index (PDI)], and zeta potential values of developed nanoparticle formulations. The F1 [low molecular weight PLGA (Resomer® RG 503 H)] and F2 [high molecular weight PLGA (Resomer® RG 504 H)] formulations were then directly labeled with Technetium-99m ([^99mTc]Tc) using stannous salts (chloride) as a reducing agent. The radiochemical purity (RP) and in vitro stability in different mediums of the formulations were assessed using ascending radioactive thin layer chromatography (RTLC) method. The cell incorporation of [^99mTc]Tc labeled F1 and F2 formulations, as well as Reduced/Hydrolized [^99mTc]NaTcO4 (R/H-[^99mTc]NaTcO4) in the MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) cells, was then assessed. The nanoparticles had a middle size of 408.9±3.626 nm to 421.3±7.205 nm, a PDI value of 0.310±0.055 to 0.330±0.066, and a positive charge of +70.5±1.4 mV to +75.5±3.8 mV, according to the characterization results. F1 and F2 formulations were effectively radiolabeled with [^99mTc]Tc, and their RP was found to be over 98% in both cases. When compared to [^99mTc]Tc-F1 (45.091±2.254%) and R/H-[^99mTc]NaTcO4 (8.527±0.426%), the incorporation percentages of [^99mTc]Tc-F2 (70.756±3.537%) were shown to be higher in cancer cell lines (breast cancer cells, MCF-7). According to this research, radiolabeled chitosan coated PLGA nanoparticles ([^99mTc]Tc-F2) could be suggested as promising cancer detection formulations. However, further investigations, such as biodistribution studies, should be performed. Keywords : Chitosan; PLGA; nanoparticle; diagnostic nanosystem; technetium-99m; radiolabeling; cell culture