ABSTRACT
In this study, a polymer composite micelle (PAMPA) was prepared based on polyacrylamide (PAM) and punicic acid (PA) due to the cytotoxic effects of PA as a biomaterial on prostate cancer cells. The structure of these novel micelles was synthesized by chemical conjugation followed by self-assembly via film casting ultrasonication to form micelles. The nano micelle structure was confirmed by means of FTIR, 1H-NMR, and TEM. FTIR results demonstrated the successfully conjugated bond between the polymer and PA. In the second stage, flutamide acting as a prostate cancer drug was loaded in the designed micelles, and the drug released was measured at a pH value of 5 and 7. Particle size and zeta potential were determined for micelles composed of 3.3 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg copolymer in a fixed dose of the drug. The prepared nano micelles showed a particle size of 88 nm with CMC of 74.13 μg/ml. The novel blank nanocarrier was safe on PC3 cells at concentrations ranging from 100 nM to 25 μM, with enhanced cytotoxic effects of flutamide at a concentration of 25 μM compared to the free drug. Evidence suggests that the PAMPA copolymeric micelles can be exploited as an effective carrier to enhance the cytotoxic effects of flutamide in prostate cancer treatment.

KEYWORDS
Polyacrylamide; punicic acid; micelles; antitumor activity, prostate cancer





INTRODUCTION
Pomegranate seed oil is an attractive item possessing enriched phytochemicals with antioxidant activity due to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as ortho-diphenols and high punicic acid (PA). PA has many beneficial characteristics related to human health, such as anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-carcinogenic properties [1].