Hybrid polymeric systems of mesoporous silica/hydroxyapatite nanoparticles applied as antitumor drug delivery platform

Abstract In this study, we report the production of a mesoporous silica/hydroxyapatite‐based nanocomposite containing copper (Cu) functionalized with methacrylic acid (MAA), a pH‐sensitive polymer. The functionalization of the nanoparticles surface was performed using the microwave method in order to anchor the cross‐linking tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), onto the nanoparticles surface followed by MAA polymerization. The materials were characterized by XRD, XRF spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, zeta potential, and elemental analysis. Studies of the incorporation and release of the antitumor methotrexate drug were performed in order to evaluate the potential use of these drug carrier systems in cancer therapy. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the samples in fibroblast and SAOS‐2 cells was investigated, and the activity of the adipose‐derived stem cell alkaline phosphatase on nanocomposites was studied by in vitro assays. The results indicate that the Cu‐containing nanocomposites can be easily produced and that these compositions have beneficial effects in stem cells, maintaining cell viability, and allowing alkaline phosphatase expression. In conclusion, data from this work show that the nanocomposites obtained have adequate characteristic to be used as drug delivery platform. Furthermore, the biomaterial is a promising structure for treatment of bone tumor.