Development and Characterization of PMMA/PVP Nanofiber-Loaded Bioactive Agents with Enhanced Breast Cancer Activity

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, driving the need for novel effective and less toxic therapeutic agents. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of bioactive compounds: 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-(p-tolyl)methanimine (MPTI), N-(4-methylphenyl)benzamide (MPB), and 4-methyl-N-(p-tolyl)benzenesulfonamide (MTS), and their incorporation into a PMMA/PVP polymer matrix for potential anticancer applications. Morphological analysis of the PMMA/PVP-loaded agents via SEM depicts structural modifications in the PMMA/PVP nanofibrous matrix upon incorporation of the bioactive agents. The FTIR analysis of the synthesized compounds before and after loading into the 7PMMA:3PVP nanofibers reveals successful incorporation of MPTI, MPB, and MTS, with characteristic absorption bands confirming their molecular structures and interactions within the polymeric blend. Moreover, XRD diffractograms showed a transition to an amorphous state upon incorporation of the synthesized compounds into the polymer blend confirming full encapsulation. In vitro release studies showed a sustained release profile of the bioactive agents, with initial burst releases observed over a period of 3 days. Cytotoxicity assays against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line revealed significant concentration-dependent effects, with MTS exhibiting the highest efficacy. Notably, the PMMA/PVP matrix reduced the cytotoxicity of the formulations, suggesting a protective effect that enhances safety. The findings indicate that the PMMA/PVP system may serve as an effective platform for delivering these bioactive agents for anticancer applications.