Development of turmeric oil-loaded folic acid-grafted chitosan/alginate nanocapsules for targeted delivery to breast cancer

Abstract

Folate receptors that are overexpressed in various cancer cells including breast cancers have become a promising strategy in targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics. In this study, the folic acid (FA)-conjugated chitosan/alginate nanocapsules loaded with turmeric oil (TO-FA-CS/Alg NC) were developed by ionotropic gelation technique to target folate receptors in MBA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The successful conjugation of FA with CS was confirmed with 1H-NMR and FT-IR, and Box-Behnken design was utilized in optimizing the formulation. The optimized TO-FA-CS/Alg NC rendered suitable particle size (189 nm) with homogenous distribution and high encapsulation efficiency (35.9%) and loading capacity (1.82%). The in vitro drug release profile of TO-FA-CS/Alg NCs also showed sustained TO release that is suitable for both oral and parenteral routes of administration. Furthermore, cell viability assay proved that TO-FA-CS/Alg NC had higher cytotoxic effects than TO-CS/Alg NC and unencapsulated TO against MBA-MB-231 and MCF-7 overexpressing folate receptors. These results suggest that the FA-CS/Alg NC can be promising targeted nanocarriers to folate-positive breast cancer cells.