Preparation of functionalized composite nanoparticles for to be used for theranostic purposes in lung cancer

In this thesis study, functionalized dendrimeric nanoparticles (DNp-PEG-F127-FA; DNp: BH40, BH30, BH20) were synthesized from pluronic F127 (F127) mediated folate anions (FA) and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and their structures were elucidated via FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques. The average particle size of the nanoparticles was determined in the 38-220 nm range using Zeta-Sizer. It was calculated from the TEM micrographs that the particle and cluster sizes of the micelles were in the range of 27-380 nm. Thermal properties of the DNp-PEG and the DNp-PEG-F127-FA nanoparticles were investigated via TG/DTG/DTA and DSC analysis. Gd2O3 and sphyingosine kinase-1/sphyingosine kinase-2 inhibitors (SK1-I/II) were loaded onto the the nanoparticles via supercritical CO2 technique. The structures of the drug loaded nanoparticles were elucidated via FTIR and XRD techniques. The drug release behaviour of the DNp-PEG-F127-FA-Gd2O3-SKI-I/II nanoparticles were investigated in PBS solution (pH 7,4, 37 oC) for 192 hours. Cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles on lung cancer cells (A549) and healthy lung cells (Beas-2B) was determined via MTT test and the morphological changes they cause on the cells were investigated via confocal microscopy.