BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the increasing number of patients with cancer and the relative ineffectiveness of existing treatments, finding a modern technique for cancer treatment has been one of the major topics of research in recent decades. The present study aims to load curcumin anticancer drug on targeted iron oxide nanoparticles.

METHODS: In this laboratory research, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using polyol method. Then, they were coated with polyglycerol as a polymeric coating through ring – opening polymerization method. Folic acid (with three weight ratios of 2, 25 and 50%) was used to target the system constructed for specific penetration into the cancer cells. The experiments of loading the drug were performed with three weight ratios of 0.5, 1 and 2 µg nanoparticles on coated and targeted nanoparticles. Then, drug release rate was measured under in vitro conditions. Finally, MTT Assay was used to analyze cell toxicity of the loaded drug.

FINDINGS: Results indicated successful construction of 20 nm nanoparticles. The maximum rate of drug loading into the system was about 88 and 82% for non-targeted nanoparticles and targeted nanoparticles, respectively, while increased targeting had adverse effects on drug loading. Moreover, the loaded drug had a more successful therapeutic effect compared with the free drug.

CONCLUSION: Results of the study demonstrated that the constructed nanoparticles have the necessary efficiency to act as a system for transferring anticancer drug.