Study on the photosensitive properties and targeting ability of nano-carrier system chitosan-pluronic-folic encapsulated Curcumin combined with paclitaxel to monitor the targeting potential and enhance the elimination effect of cancer cells.

FA-CS-P123 and CS-P123-FA drug delivery systems were successfully synthesized with confirmation through 1H-NMR analysis, and the CMC values were determined to be unchanged as compared to those of CS-P123 nano-gel. Surveys on the PTX encapsulation capabilities of CS-P123, FA-CS-P123 and CS-P123-FA were conducted. The results indicated a maximum encapsulation efficiency of 2% PTX. The morphological, micellar size and charge characteristics of the respective nano-gels were analyzed by TEM, DLS and zeta potential. PTX release efficiencies of FA-CS-P123 and CS-P123-FA nano-gels at 37℃  in both pH 7.4 and pH 5 were studied. The nano-gels exhibited a strong release of PTX at pH 5, while in the case of pH 7.4 PTX was found to be confined within the nano-gels structures. After 6 months of storage, the results showed that the FA-CS-P123 and CS-P123-FA nano-gels had retained more than 95% of the loaded PTX as compared to the post-preparation samples. Biocompatibility of the FA-CS-P123 and CS-P123-FA nano-gels were determined on fibroblast cell line, with the resulting cell survival achieving above 70% - indicating that the studied nano-gels possess satisfactory biocompatability. The cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells of FA-CS-P123/PTX/Cur and CS-P123-FA/PTX/Cur nano-gels were investigated with the results showing that CS-P123-FA/PTX/Cur was more cytotoxic to the studied cells as compared to FA-CS-P123/PTX/Cur.
This task has contributed to improving the knowledge, techniques and skills of the researchers at IAMS in synthesizing nano-materials functionalized with targeting agents via different methods. The topic contributed to the training of post-graduate researcher for PhD. In carrying out the task, we have continued to develop a good partnership with the B.I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, Belarussian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research in researching the application of active-targeting nanomaterials to enhance the therapeutic potential of anti-cancer drugs and bioactive compounds. The mission helped us to overcome the limitations of machinery and funding in research; and for our partners, this project has also helped the Belarussian side to approach the synthesis of nanomaterials functionalized with new active targeting agents. These studies have contributed to the development of new drugs and this cooperation has proven to be very important for both Vietnam and Belarus.

The synthesis of targeted drug delivery nanomaterials carrying biologically active substances of this task has played an important role in enhancing drug bioavailability, reducing dosage and treatment costs. Anti-cancer drugs with poor water solubility while possessing the same operating mechanism as PTX will be encapsulated into nanosystems to improve their solubility in aqueous media. The results of this mission showed that the encapsulation of biologically active substances into nanosystems increased storage time, accompanied by the slow release of these substances to enhance their bioavailability, reducing their acute toxicity and thus, improving the efficiencies of their usage. Therefore, the results obtained from this task have increased the therapeutic potential of anti-cancer drugs in combination with natural bioactive compounds, contributing to the development and application of nanotechnology in the field of medicine in Vietnam.

- Publications:
1. Van Toan Nguyen, Phuong Doan, Dinh Trung Nguyen, Van-Dat Doan, Tan
Phat Dao, Vitalii Plavskii, Bich Tram Nguyen & Ngoc Quyen Tran (2022). Effect of targeting ligand designation of self-assembly chitosan-poloxamer nanogels loaded Paclitacel on inhibiting MCF-7 cancer cell growth. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 33(4), 426-442.
2. V. Yu. Plavskii1, A. V. Mikulich1, A. I. Tretyakova1, L. G. Plavskaya1, O. N. Dudinova1, T. S. Ananich1, A. N. Sobchuk1, I. A. Leusenka1, S. V. Yakimchuk1, Le Hang Dang and Ngoc Quyen Tran, The role of porphyrins as theranostic agents during the exposure of biological systems to low-level optical radiation, T r e n d s i n Photochemistry & Photobiology (accepted). 
- Training: 01 post-graduate researcher

Request: Continuing cooperation with the B.I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, Belarussian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research in the preparation of nanomaterials functionalized with the appropriate targeting agents to carry different biologically active substances. This is a new field for both Vietnam and Belarus with Vietnam possessing a great abundance of the required medicinal plants while these ingredients are not readily available to the Belarussian side. Medicinal plants are widely used in traditional folk medicines, however their applications in modern medicine have so far been limited by their instabilities in the natural environment. Therefore, cooperation in the field of preparing targeted nanomaterials loaded with anti-cancer drugs and natural bioactive ingredients at the same time will many interesting and useful results for both Vietnam and Belarus.   
Proposal: Based on the obtained results, we propose the next topic in this field of research: “Study on active-targeting nanomaterials encapsulating anti-cancer substances extracted from cassava/Laos grass in Vietnam.”