10.57647/jnsc.2025.1503.14

Development of a Biocompatible PLGA-Based Nanoplatform for Targeted Delivery of Empagliflozin and Enhanced Cytotoxicity against Gastric Carcinoma Cells

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  • Shu-Bo Tian1,
  • Bin Huo2,
  • Hao Liu1,
  • Shuai Kong1,
  • Ke-Shu Shan*1,
  1. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China
  2. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan, Shandong Province, China

Received: 15-07-2025

Revised: 08-08-2025

Accepted: 20-08-2025

Published in Issue 31-08-2025

Copyright (c) 2025 Shu-Bo Tian, Bin Huo, Hao Liu, Shuai Kong, Ke-Shu Shan (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Tian, S.-B., Huo, B., Liu, H., Kong, S., & Shan, K.-S. (2025). Development of a Biocompatible PLGA-Based Nanoplatform for Targeted Delivery of Empagliflozin and Enhanced Cytotoxicity against Gastric Carcinoma Cells. Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.57647/jnsc.2025.1503.14
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Abstract

Gastric carcinoma remains a formidable global health challenge with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis, necessitating the development of innovative treatment strategies. This study reports the design, synthesis, and comprehensive characterization of a novel biocompatible nanoplatform for the targeted delivery of empagliflozin (EMPA), a repurposed antidiabetic drug, to gastric carcinoma cells. The nanoplatform consists of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core encapsulating EMPA, with a surface functionalized with folic acid (FA) via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker (FA-EMPA-PLGA-NP) to actively target the overexpressed folate receptor (FR) on gastric cancer cells. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a uniform spherical morphology with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 165 nm, a low polydispersity index, and high encapsulation efficiency (>85%). A comprehensive suite of characterization techniques, including FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET, confirmed the successful synthesis, surface modification, and amorphous encapsulation of the drug. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a sustained, biphasic release profile that was significantly accelerated under acidic conditions (pH 5.5) compared to physiological pH (7.4), indicating a pH-responsive behavior beneficial for the tumor microenvironment. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed significantly enhanced cellular uptake of FA-conjugated nanoparticles in FR-positive AGS gastric carcinoma cells compared to non-targeted counterparts. Consequently, the FA-EMPA-PLGA-NPs exhibited markedly superior cytotoxicity, with a significantly lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) than both free EMPA and non-targeted nanoparticles. These findings demonstrate that the FA-EMPA-PLGA-NP system is a highly promising platform for the targeted therapy of gastric carcinoma, warranting further investigation in preclinical models.

Keywords

  • Gastric Carcinoma,
  • Empagliflozin,
  • PLGA Nanoparticles,
  • Folic Acid,
  • Targeted Drug Delivery,
  • Nanomedicine
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