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Science / Fri, 10 Jul 2026 Nature

Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of donepezil-loaded magnetite-PLGA nanoparticles in neuroblastoma cells

This work explores the potential of magnetite polymeric nanoparticles (MPNs) encapsulating Donepezil (DPZ) to evaluate its delivery potential in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Finally, the cytotoxicity of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ on SH-SY5Y cells was determined using an MTT assay. The crystalline size of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ, as revealed by XRD, ranged from 20 to 60 nm, and the wurtzite crystal structure size was 12.95 nm. The FTIR spectra showed that DPZ was successfully encapsulated within the PLGA matrix, and the TEM images revealed the synthesis and production of OAMNP-PLGA-DPZ. Biocompatibility evaluation demonstrated an IC₅₀ of 13.5 ± 2.12 µg/mL as a baseline for the safety profile after 48 h of exposure.

This work explores the potential of magnetite polymeric nanoparticles (MPNs) encapsulating Donepezil (DPZ) to evaluate its delivery potential in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The MNPs coated with oleic acid (OA) were synthesized via co-precipitation, resulting in oleic acid-coated magnetite NPs (OAMNPs). These were combined with Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and DPZ to create the nanohybrid, OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ. The nanohybrid has been characterized utilizing Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Drug loading capacity (LC%) and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) were quantified by Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and in‑vitro drug release was evaluated at physiological pH 7.4. Finally, the cytotoxicity of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ on SH-SY5Y cells was determined using an MTT assay. The crystalline size of OAMNPs-PLGA-DPZ, as revealed by XRD, ranged from 20 to 60 nm, and the wurtzite crystal structure size was 12.95 nm. The FTIR spectra showed that DPZ was successfully encapsulated within the PLGA matrix, and the TEM images revealed the synthesis and production of OAMNP-PLGA-DPZ. Biocompatibility evaluation demonstrated an IC₅₀ of 13.5 ± 2.12 µg/mL as a baseline for the safety profile after 48 h of exposure. Taken together, these findings suggested that OAMNPs‑PLGA‑DPZ represent a foundational drug‑delivery platform with potential applications for neurodegenerative diseases.

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