Hydroxyurea-Loaded Albumin Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Studies

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA-NPs) are established drug delivery systems, typically synthesized using glutaraldehyde.
• Developing HSA-NPs with natural crosslinking agents under mild conditions is desirable for improved biocompatibility and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the crosslinking of human serum albumin (HSA) with natural agents, urea and cysteine, at the nanoparticle level.
• To optimize nanoparticle formulations for drug delivery applications, specifically encapsulating hydroxyurea (HU).

Main Methods:

• HSA crosslinking using urea and cysteine at room temperature (20-25 °C).
• Optimization of component concentrations (HSA, urea, cysteine) to achieve desired nanoparticle physico-chemical properties.
• Encapsulation of hydroxyurea (HU) into the formulated HSA nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Successfully formed HSA nanoparticles using urea and cysteine under mild conditions.
• Characterized HSA nanoparticles with sizes of 196 ± 5 nm and HSA-HU nanoparticles of 288 ± 10 nm.
• Achieved high yield (~93%) and encapsulation efficiency (~77%) for HSA-HU nanoparticles, demonstrating stability and prolonged drug effect.

Conclusions:

• Natural agents urea and cysteine can effectively crosslink HSA to form stable nanoparticles.
• Formulated HSA-HU nanoparticles exhibit promising characteristics for sustained drug delivery, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes.