Synergistic inducement of programmed cell death in breast cancer cell line and microbial growth inhibition by methylcellulose blended polymeric nanofiber mats through controlled drug release.

Cancer patients require a drug carrier for controlled release of anticancer drug alongside with the properties of eradicating microbial strains that causes severe side effects during treatments. Herein, the study reports the fabrication of electrospun nanofiber mats comprised of methylcellulose blended with 5-fluorouracil drug, polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid ingrained with silica nanoparticles for the eradication of cancer cells and pathogenic microbes via controlled drug release. The fabricated nanofiber mats were thoroughly characterized by various analytical techniques. The spherical shape and size of the nanoparticle were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and structural interactions by infra-red spectral and X-ray diffraction studies. The ionic interaction among nanoparticles, drug and macromolecules were found to be responsible for higher swelling capacity (346 %) and controlled drug release (>90 %) was observed at the end of 16th day. Zero order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics confirmed the controlled release of drug from the mats via diffusion. The cytotoxicity study against MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line resulted 65 % and 75 % of cell death in a period of 24 h, respectively and further validated by apoptosis assay using Acridine Orange and Propidium Iodide staining method. The microscopic images revealed that more apoptotic cells appeared when cancer cells are exposed with methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol incorporated nanofiber mats. Furthermore, an excellent activity was observed in growth inhibition study against bacterial and fungal strains. Hence, the fabricated nanofiber mats were proposed as proficient implants for controlled drug release in cancer therapy.