Nanoparticles with dextran/chitosan shell and BSA/chitosan core--doxorubicin loading and delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Biocompatible nanoparticles are crucial for targeted drug delivery.
• Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-dextran-chitosan nanoparticles offer potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
• Developing safe and effective drug carriers is a key challenge in cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize biocompatible BSA-dextran-chitosan nanoparticles.
• To investigate the loading and release of doxorubicin (DOX).
• To evaluate the in vivo antitumor efficacy and toxicity of DOX-loaded nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Nanoparticle fabrication via electrostatic attraction and BSA gelation.
• Characterization using light scattering, zeta-potential, AFM, and pyrene fluorescence.
• In vivo antitumor studies in murine ascites hepatoma H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Main Results:

• Spherical nanoparticles (130-230 nm) were successfully fabricated and stable in physiological conditions.
• Effective loading of doxorubicin was achieved through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.
• DOX-loaded nanoparticles significantly reduced doxorubicin toxicity and improved mouse survival rates.

Conclusions:

• BSA-dextran-chitosan nanoparticles represent a safe and effective drug delivery vehicle.
• These nanoparticles demonstrate potential for improving cancer therapy by enhancing drug efficacy and reducing side effects.
• Further research into nanoparticle-based cancer treatments is warranted.