In vitro evaluation and characterization of cisplatin loaded nanofibers for local chemotherapy

Cancer is a disease that affects the quality of life of the patients that are treated with Cisplatin (CDDP), which is needed for adjuvant therapy, however it leads to many secondary and adverse effects. In this study, we manufactured and characterized poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) non-woven fibers loaded with Cisplatin (CDDP) by electrospinning technique to evaluate their cytotoxicity in in vitro assays on HeLa cells (cervical carcinoma cell line). PLA–CDDP solutions with increasing concentrations of CDDP (0.5, 1 and 2% w/w) were used in a TL-01 electrospinning equipment with the same system parameters. We analyzed the chemical, thermal and morphological characteristics of PLA and PLA–CDDP fiber mats. Furthermore, hydrolytic degradation, hemolysis and toxicity in HeLa cells were evaluated. By adding the CDDP to the fibers, the degradation, glass transition and melting temperatures were modified; the 3 µm fiber diameter of pristine PLA fibers was decreased in half the size and the degradation time was extended over 5 months. However, the hemocompatibility of the material with and without CDDP was maintained, while cytotoxicity in HeLa cells increased in the three concentrations of fiber mats of PLA–CDDP compared to the intravenous drug at 24 h (p < 0.01). We concluded that the fiber mats PLA–CDDP could be used for localized therapy in the adjuvant treatment when resection panels are expose after a surgical extirpation of solid tumors.