Functional Applications of Polyarginine-Hyaluronic Acid-Based Electrostatic Complexes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• l-Arginine (Arg) is vital for physiological processes but challenging to deliver exogenously due to arginase and toxicity.
• Developing effective delivery systems for Arg is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate polyarginine-hyaluronic acid ionic nanocomplexes (pArg-HA iNCs) as a delivery system for l-Arginine.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of pArg-HA iNCs in wound healing and cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• pArg-HA iNCs were synthesized by mixing pArg and HA in aqueous solutions.
• Nanocomplexes were characterized for size, surface charge, Arg release kinetics, and cellular uptake.
• Functional assays included fibroblast growth, nitric oxide activity, and cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells.

Main Results:

• Synthesized nanocomplexes ranged from 140-306 nm with a ζ-potential of -29 mV.
• pH-dependent Arg release was observed, with higher release at acidic pH (5.0) compared to physiological pH (7.4).
• pArg-HA iNCs promoted fibroblast growth, increased nitric oxide activity, and exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancer cells, synergizing with gemcitabine.

Conclusions:

• pArg-HA iNCs represent an effective strategy for delivering l-Arginine to target cells.
• These nanocomplexes demonstrate potential for therapeutic intervention in wound healing and cancer by modulating intracellular Arg metabolism.