LAUSR

AIM To evaluate the chemotherapeutic potential of a novel multifunctional nanocomposite encapsulating both porous silicon (PSi) and gold (Au) nanoparticles in a polymeric nanocomplex. MATERIALS & METHODS The nanocomposite was physicochemically characterized and evaluated in vitro for biocompatibility, cellular internalization, endosomolytic properties, cytoplasmatic drug delivery and chemotherapeutic efficacy. RESULTS The nanocomposites were successfully produced and exhibited adequate physicochemical properties and superior in vitro cyto- and hemocompatibilities. The encapsulation of PSi nanoparticles in the nanocomplexes significantly enhanced their cellular internalization and enabled their endosomal escape, resulting in the efficient cytoplasmic delivery of these nanosystems. Sorafenib-loaded nanocomposites showed a potent in vitro antiproliferative effect on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION The multifunctional nanocomposite herein presented exhibits great potential as a chemotherapeutic nanoplatform.