Physicochemical Characterization of PHBV Nanoparticles Functionalized with Multiple Bioactives Designed to be Theranostics for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a neoplasm associated with bacterial infections, main reason, to design a combined chemotherapy and antimicrobial treatment. Due to adverse drug reactions, we designed and synthetized polymer Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanoparticles loaded with clarithromycin and paclitaxel and Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPION). Spherical nanoparticles with diameters ranging between 176 ± 19 and 222 ± 68 nm, hydrophilic and had a net negative surface charge were obtained. These nanoparticles can be lyophilized and resuspended in polar environments without affecting their physicochemical characteristics and maintaining their antibacterial activity. Both drugs interacted differently with the polymer, avoiding competition between them and facilitating the simultaneous encapsulation. The paclitaxel loaded in these nanoparticles remains almost completely encapsulated during the first 24 h under physiological conditions, allowing its accumulation and release in sites of high permeability and retention, such as tumors. In summary, these PHBV nanoparticles loaded with clarithromycin, paclitaxel and SPION are a promising drug delivery system for use in theranostics against lung cancer. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]