Co-axial electrosprayed RAD001-loaded polycaprolactone/polyvinyl alcohol core–shell particles for treating pediatric brain tumours

Core-shell particles composed of polycaprolactone/polyvinyl alcohol (PCL/PVA) with pH sensitive properties were successfully fabricated by co-axial electrospraying in which PVA and PCL formed the shell and core layers respectively. The core–shell structure was confirmed by FTIR, DSC and SEM analysis. No chemical interaction between PVA and PCL core–shell were observed in the FTIR analysis. The RAD001 loaded core–shell particles showed a sustained and pH dependent drug release and was assayed via our previously developed HPLC method. After indirect treatment of the PF-A cells with the core–shell particles for 24 h and 5 days a decrease in cell viability was observed. Additionally, a comparison was made with our previously developed nanoparticles containing 2 %PVA-14 %SOL®-0.6 % RAD001, for the cell viability study on ependymoma. Our findings show that optimised core–shell particles exerted a significant effect for the 24 h and 5 day treatment however further studies are required to ensure toxicity of the control core–shell particles with no drug is reduced. In comparison, the 2 %PVA-14 %SOL®-0.6 %RAD001 uniaxial electrosprayed nanoparticles also exerted a toxicity effect decreasing cell viability with no toxicity observed for the control nanoparticles as well. Such pH-sensitive core–shell particles, which can degrade effectively in either acidic or neutral condition, have great potential for application in the biomedical field.