Folate-chitosan nanoparticles loaded with an apolar acetogenin inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer cells

The folk medicine Annona muricata is used widely against cancer. Three acetogenins AMPE I, AMPE II and AMPE III were isolated from the leaves of A. muricata and were identified as epomuricenin-A, epomuricenin-B and epomusenin-B respectively. FACS NPs were prepared and characterised by FTIR, particle size, zeta potential (ZP), TGA, SEM and TEM analysis. The average particle size and ZP of the encapsulated chitosan NPs and folic acid conjugated chitosan NP were 52 nm and 71 nm, 32.75 mV and 42.85 mV respectively. Among the acetogenins epomuricenin-A, AMPE I was more active in MTT assay as it portrays an IC₅₀ value of 14.8 and 16 μg/ml against C33A and ME180 cells. Subsequently, IC₅₀ values of 62.7 and 125.6 μg/ml were observed for FACSNPs and 45.3 and 98.2 μg/ml for CSNPs against ME180 cells and C33A cells respectively. In TGA indicated a good stability analysis between 160 °C to 342 °C. Also, cellular internalization assay proved the targeted action toward folate receptors and in the wound healing assay treatment with 20 μg/ml FACS NPs within 24 h causes a reduction in migration of cells. The study found that FACS NPs showed a targeted delivery in cervical cancer.