Abstract

Melphalan (Mel) is an antineoplastic widely used in cancer and other diseases. Its low solubility, rapid hydrolysis, and non-specificity limit its therapeutic performance. To overcome these disadvantages, Mel was included in beta-cyclodextrin (beta CD), which is a macromolecule that increases its aqueous solubility and stability, among other properties. Additionally, the beta CD-Mel complex has been used as a substrate to deposit silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through magnetron sputtering, forming the beta CD-Mel-AgNPs crystalline system. Different techniques showed that the complex (stoichiometric ratio 1:1) has a loading capacity of 27%, an association constant of 625 M-1, and a degree of solubilization of 0.034. Added to this, Mel is partially included, exposing the NH2 and COOH groups that stabilize AgNPs in the solid state, with an average size of 15 +/- 3 nm. Its dissolution results in a colloidal solution of AgNPs covered by multiple layers of the beta CD-Mel complex, with a hydrodynamic diameter of 116 nm, a PDI of 0.4, and a surface charge of 19 mV. The in vitro permeability assays show that the effective permeability of Mel increased using beta CD and AgNPs. This novel nanosystem based on beta CD and AgNPs is a promising candidate as a Mel nanocarrier for cancer therapy.