In this study, we reported folate-conjugated polypropylene imine dendrimers (FA-PPI) as efficient carrier for model anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX), for pH-sensitive drug release, selective targeting to cancer cells, and anticancer activity. In the in vitro drug release studies this nanoconjugate of MTX showed initial rapid release followed by gradual slow release, and the drug release was found to be pH sensitive with greater release at acidic pH. The ex vivo investigations with human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, showed enhanced cytotoxicity of MTX-FA-PPI with significantly enhanced intracellular uptake. The biofate of nanoconjugate was determined in Wistar rat where MTX-FA-PPI showed 37.79-fold increase in the concentration of MTX in liver after 24 h in comparison with free MTX formulation.
Keywords: Cancer; dendrimers; drug targeting; folic acid; methotrexate.