Self-assembled chitosan-sodium usnate drug delivery nanosystems: Synthesis, characterization, stability studies, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility against 143 B cells

Brugnoli, Benedetta; Mariano, Alessia; Simonis, Beatrice; Bombelli, Cecilia; Sennato, Simona; Piozzi, Antonella; Taresco, Vincenzo; Chauhan, Veeren M.; Howdle, Steven M.; Scotto d'Abusco, Anna; Francolini, Iolanda

Abstract

Polymers are among the most studied materials as drug carriers, due to their tunable chemical structure and ability to self-assemble to give different types of nanostructures. In this study, chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated as carriers for the anticancer drug sodium usnate (NaU) for the treatment of osteosarcoma (OS), which is the most prevalent primary malignant bone sarcoma in pediatric and adolescent patients. CS nano-assembling was induced by electrostatic interactions with the drug and the anionic cross-linker tripolyphosphate, thus obtaining stable nanosystems and a high drug encapsulation efficiency. Importantly, a reduction in NaU hepatotoxicity when encapsulated in CS NPs compared to free NaU was evidenced, suggesting that CS may have a protective role against liver damage. Unfortunately, NaU encapsulation also reduced drug toxicity versus osteosarcoma 143B cells compared to free NaU. Nevertheless, NaU-loaded CS NPs (0.312 mg/mL) were found to decrease 143B cells viability after 48 h and 72 h treatment without being hepatotoxic. Interestingly, this system also stimulated in 143B cells Maspin production, an agent known for its tumor suppressor properties. Relevant synergistic activity between CS and NaU in promoting Maspin stimulation was found. That suggests the potential of the systems to reduce invasiveness of OS cancer.

Citation

Brugnoli, B., Mariano, A., Simonis, B., Bombelli, C., Sennato, S., Piozzi, A., Taresco, V., Chauhan, V. M., Howdle, S. M., Scotto d'Abusco, A., & Francolini, I. (2023). Self-assembled chitosan-sodium usnate drug delivery nanosystems: Synthesis, characterization, stability studies, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility against 143 B cells. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 6, Article 100373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2023.100373

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 29, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-12
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 16, 2023
• Journal: Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
• Electronic ISSN: 2666-8939
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: 100373
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2023.100373
• Keywords: Chitosan nanoparticles; Nano-particle drug delivery systems; Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes; Sodium usnate; 143B cells Maspin stimulation; Osteosarcoma
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25957704
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893923000944?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Self-assembled chitosan-sodium usnate drug delivery nanosystems: Synthesis, characterization, stability studies, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility against 143 B cells; Journal Title: Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2023.100373; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.