Multifunctional niosome-chitosan-gold nanohybrids for pH/ROS-triggered camptothecin release in breast cancer treatment.

Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are associated with cancer and inflammation, motivating the development of ROS-responsive drug delivery systems that exploit the oxidative tumor microenvironment for controlled release. Breast cancer remains a major global health challenge, necessitating effective and low-toxicity therapies. Camptothecin (CPT), a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor, is limited clinically by poor solubility and systemic toxicity. In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanocomposite (NIOs/AuNPs-CS/CPT) consisting of CPT-loaded niosomes (NIOs) integrated with chitosan (CS)-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized via a green method using Moringa oleifera seeds extract. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed successful fabrication. In-vitro release studies revealed pH- and ROS-responsive CPT release under tumor-like conditions. The nanocomposite exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 24.10 μg/mL) and enhanced cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 5.2 ± 0.10 μg/mL), outperforming control formulations. These results highlight its potential as a biocompatible platform for targeted breast cancer therapy.