The efficacy of methotrexate-impregnated hydroxyapatite composites on human mammary carcinoma cells

J Vechasilp, B Tangtrakulwanich
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Physical Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

K Oungbho
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

S Yuenyongsawad
Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

PURPOSE. To investigate the efficacy of local biodegradable composites of hydroxyapatite, plaster of Paris, and a binder of either alginate or chitosan impregnated with methotrexate on human mammary carcinoma cells.

METHODS. An in vitro analysis of drug dissolution and a cytotoxicity test on human mammary carcinoma cells were performed over one month. Physicochemical properties of each composite were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS. Both composites with a binder of either alginate or chitosan could release methotrexate for over one month. The amount of methotrexate released depended on the amount of methotrexate loaded. The composite using alginate as a binder released a significantly greater amount of methotrexate than that using chitosan as a binder (p<0.05). The elution of both composites showed favourable cytotoxicity when the concentration was greater than 5 microgram/ml.

CONCLUSION. Methotrexate-impregnated hydroxyapatite composites appear to be effective local skeletal methotrexate delivery systems against human mammary carcinoma cells in an in vitro model.