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Preparation, characterization, and in vitro antitumor activity of folate conjugated chitosan coated EGCG nanoparticles

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Abstract

Folate conjugated chitosan coated EGCG nanoparticles (FCS-EGCG-NPs) were prepared using the ionic gelation method with folic acid modified carboxymethyl chitosan (FA-CMC) and chitosan hydrochloride as carriers of catechin EGCG. Characteristics of FCS-EGCG-NPs were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Synthesized FCS-EGCG-NPs were spherical in shape with a mean diameter of 400 nm. The maximum encapsulation rate of nanoparticles loaded with EGCG was 75%. FTIR spectra suggested formation of an amide linkage between carboxyl groups of FA-CMC and the amine groups of chitosan hydrochloride. FCS-EGCG-NPs demonstrated sustained release of EGCG in buffer solutions of different pH values. The antitumor activity of FCS-EGCG-NPs towards different cancer cells was also investigated. FCS-EGCG-NPs had a greater tumor inhibition effect on cancer cells having a large expression of folic acid receptors on the surface than cancer cells with lesser expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tea Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Agriculture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China

    Jin Liang, Liang Zhang & Xiao-Chun Wan

  2. College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Lin Cao

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  1. Jin Liang
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  2. Lin Cao
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  3. Liang Zhang
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  4. Xiao-Chun Wan
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Correspondence to Xiao-Chun Wan.

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Liang, J., Cao, L., Zhang, L. et al. Preparation, characterization, and in vitro antitumor activity of folate conjugated chitosan coated EGCG nanoparticles. Food Sci Biotechnol 23, 569–575 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-014-0078-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-014-0078-4

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