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2000
Volume 25, Issue 5
  • ISSN: 1566-5240
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5666

Abstract

Background

Several diseases, including cancer, can be effectively treated by altering the nanocarrier surfaces so that they are more likely to be targeted.

Objective

This study aimed to prepare human albumin (HSA) nanoparticles containing Fenoferin (FN) modified with folic acid (FA) attached to Chitosan (CS) to improve its anti-cancer properties.

Methods

Nanoparticles were first synthesized and surface modified. Their physicochemical properties were assessed by different methods, such as FESEM, FTIR, and DLS. In addition, the percentage of drug encapsulated was measured by indirect method. Besides evaluating the cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles using the MTT assay, the antioxidant capacity of FN-HSA-CS-FA was assessed using the ABTS and DPPH methods. Nanoparticles were also investigated for their anti-cancer effects by evaluating the expression of apoptosis and metastasis genes.

Results

Based on this study, FN-HSA-CS-FA was 165.46 nm in size, and a uniform dispersion distribution was identified. Particles were reported to have a zeta potential of +29 mV, which is within the range of stable nanoparticles. Approximately 75% of FN is encapsulated in nanoparticles. Cytotoxic assay determined that liver cancer cells were most sensitive to treatment with an IC of 144 µg/ml. Inhibition of free radicals by nanoparticles is estimated to have an IC value of 195.23 and 964 µg/ml, for ABTS and DPPH, respectively. In the treatment with nanoparticles, flow cytometry results of arresting the cells in the SubG1 phase and real-time qPCR results indicated increased expression of caspases-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 genes.

Conclusion

According to this study, synthesized nanoparticles inhibited free radicals and activated apoptosis in liver cancer cells, and the capability of these nanoparticles to inhibit cancer cells was also confirmed. This formulation can, therefore, be used in preclinical studies to test the efficacy of the drug.

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2024-02-19
2025-09-04

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/content/journals/cmm/10.2174/0115665240283529240202095254
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Anti-Cancer and Anti-Oxidant Effects of Fenoferin-loaded Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Coated with Folic Acid-bound Chitosan
Current Molecular Medicine 25, 614 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115665240283529240202095254
/content/journals/cmm/10.2174/0115665240283529240202095254
/content/journals/cmm/10.2174/0115665240283529240202095254
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): active targeting; cancer; chitosan; Fenoferin; folic acid; human serum albumin

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