Methotrexate-loaded polymeric lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNPs): a reliable drug delivery system for the treatment of glioblastoma

Polymeric lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PHLNPs) are core-shell nanoparticle structures made up of polymer cores and lipid shells that have properties similar to both polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. Methotrexate (MTX) loaded PLHNPs containing tween 80, phosphatidylcholine, poly D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and glyceryl tripalmitate prepared using solvent injection and homogenisation method for a glioblastoma treatment option. The MTX-loaded PLHNPs optimised by Box–Behnken design to minimise particle size, higher entrapment efficacy and maximise MTX concentration in the brain at 4 h. The particle size, entrapment efficacy, concentration of drug in the brain at 4 h, zeta potential, and AUC(Brain)/AUC(Plasma) ratio were in the range of 173.51–233.37 nm, 70.56–86.34%, 6.38–12.38 μg/mL, 25.78–36.31 mV and 1.02–5.32. In-vitro drug release studies, cellular internalisation of optimised formulation against U-87 MG shows good anticancer effects