Albumin–Rutin Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biophysical Evaluation

Abstract

The bioavailability of the administered drugs that reach the systemic circulation is the first point in resolving the pathology of patients. Albumin-based nanoparticles represent an increasingly used strategy to deliver cancer drugs into cells that otherwise cannot overcome biological barriers. In this work, rutin (Ru), a flavonoid with anticancer and antioxidant potential, was incorporated into bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-Ru NPs), developed using the desolvation method, and the entire system was characterized and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that BSA and BSA–Ru NPs are uniformly distributed, have relatively large sizes, and have a time stability of more than 60%. Furthermore, the effect of these nanohybrids on the thermal stability of liposomal membranes was evaluated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The viability evaluation was assessed by the tetrazolium salt (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) protocol in the fibroblast L929 line and a high level of biocompatibility, confirmed by SEM results, was found.