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Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells Exposed to Surface Modify Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded
Yu Zheng1,2, Yan Chen2, Ling-Wei Jin2
1Department of Nephrology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Street, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The rapid progress in the development and scientific investments of modified nanoparticles are due to their owed activity to various diseased conditions for which they are prepared. But the toxicity which they cause cannot be overlooked. The present study demonstrates the development of phosphatidylserine (PS)-coated chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with curcumin (CU), which was then investigated against human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) for its cytotoxic and genotoxic effect in rats. The CU-loaded CNPs (CNPs-CU) have been prepared by ionic gelation method, later which were grafted with PS. CNPs-CU and PS-CNPs-CU have been evaluated for their size, poly dispersity index, amount of drug entrapped, and in vitro CU release. CNPs-CU has an average size 167.6 ± 3.53 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) 0.115 ± 0.014, whereas PS-CNPs-CU shows average size 220 ± 3.67 nm and PDI 0.148 ± 0.019. Surface morphology of prepared NPs was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). There was no major difference in cell viability between PS-CNPs-CU and CNPs-CU when they were exposed to HEK 293 cells at all equivalent concentrations. A series of genotoxic studies were conducted, which revealed the non-genotoxicity potential of the developed complexes. These results demonstrated that PS-CNPs-CU may be useful as potential delivery system.
Insights
This study developed phosphatidylserine-coated chitosan nanoparticles loaded with curcumin. The nanoparticles showed no significant cytotoxicity or genotoxicity, indicating their potential as a safe drug delivery system.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Modified nanoparticles offer therapeutic potential but raise toxicity concerns.
- Curcumin (CU) is a natural compound with therapeutic properties, often limited by poor bioavailability.
- Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) are investigated for drug delivery applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize phosphatidylserine (PS)-coated chitosan nanoparticles loaded with curcumin (PS-CNPs-CU).
- To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of PS-CNPs-CU in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293).
- To assess the potential of PS-CNPs-CU as a safe and effective drug delivery system.
Main Methods:
- Curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs-CU) were prepared using the ionic gelation method.
- CNPs-CU were subsequently coated with phosphatidylserine (PS) to form PS-CNPs-CU.
- Nanoparticle characterization included size, polydispersity index (PDI), drug entrapment, in vitro release, and surface morphology via HR-TEM.
- Cytotoxicity was assessed using HEK 293 cells, and genotoxicity was evaluated through a series of studies.
Main Results:
- PS-CNPs-CU exhibited an average size of 220 nm with a PDI of 0.148, while CNPs-CU had an average size of 167.6 nm and PDI of 0.115.
- High-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the surface morphology of the nanoparticles.
- No significant difference in cell viability was observed between PS-CNPs-CU and CNPs-CU exposed to HEK 293 cells.
- Genotoxicity studies indicated that the developed complexes possess non-genotoxic potential.
Conclusions:
- Phosphatidylserine coating did not introduce significant cytotoxicity to curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles.
- The developed PS-CNPs-CU demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no observed genotoxicity.
- PS-CNPs-CU show promise as a potential and safe delivery system for curcumin and other therapeutic agents.

