Synthesis and characterization of polyoxometalates loaded starch nanocomplex and its antitumoral activity

According to a water-in-oil emulsion technique using POCl3 as a cross-linking agent, starch nanoparticles have been prepared. Using this starch nanoparticles, loaded polyoxometalates (POMs) alpha-K8H6 [Si2W18Ti6O77] (Si2W18Ti6) have been prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. The result shows that the Si2W18Ti6 molecule retains its parent structure after encapsulated by starch nanoparticles and Si2W18Ti6 incorporates into starch matrix to form the nanoparticles. This new complex exhibits higher stability, antitumoral activity and can extend the survival days of the mice with tumor owing to the encapsulation by starch nanoparticles. The Si2W18Ti6 has tested negative for mutagenicity in the standard Ames assay with TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102, indicating that Si2W18Ti6 has no mutagenic effect in the microsome suspension assay.