| This study aimed to design an effective targeted combination of doxorubicin (Dox)-Curcumin (Cur) delivery
system to eradicate the MDA-MB231 cell line. A novel biodegradable poly ε-Caprolactone-co-maleic anhydridegraft-
citric acid copolymer micelle (PCL-co-P(MA-g-CA)) was synthesized through thiolen radical copolymerization
and ring-opening polymerization. The unique micelle structure allowed simultaneous loading of hydrophilic
Dox and hydrophobic Cur with a loading efficiency of above 98 % for each drug. The physicochemical
characterization of copolymeric micelle was analyzed by 1HNMR, 13CNMR, FTIR, DSC, CMC, DLS and SEM. The
in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, annexin V-FITC apoptosis, qRT-PCR and
western blot. The final obtained micelles with critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.5 μg/mL, and particle
size and surface charge was 60 nm and -14.1 mV, respectively. Beside the fast uptake of designed micelle,
Dox@Cur loaded micelle showed a synergistic effect with the combination index (CI) value of below 1. Our
results revealed that this novel engineered combinatorial micelle induced apoptosis (96 %) which was proved by
annexin V and cell cycle. qRT-PCR and western blot assays demonstrated involvement of intrinsic apoptosis
pathways in the genetic and protein levels. Finally, the penetration of Dox@Cur loaded micelle was evaluated by
3D in vitro tumor formation. Our findings showed the penetration behavior of micelles is in a concentrationdependent
manner. In conclusion, combinational therapy by using Dox and Cur nano-formulation has boosted
the cytotoxicity in MDA-MB231 cells by promoting the apoptotic response. |