Abstract
BackgroundCarrageenans are naturally occurring hydrophilic, polyanionic polysaccharide bioploymers with wide application in pharmaceutical industries for controlled drug delivery. Magnetic nanoparticles with their exceptional properties enable them to be an ideal candidate for the production of functional nanostructures, thus facilitating them for biomedical applications. The development of novel nanocomposite by coupling the synergistic effects of the sulfated polysaccharide (iota carrageenan) and a magnetic nanoparticle (maghemite) may offer new interesting applications in drug delivery and cancer therapy. The nanocomposite was characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and powder XRD to highlight the possible interaction between the two components. Biocompatibility and the anticancer efficacy of the nanocomposite were assayed and analysed in vitro.ResultsResults suggested that iota carrageenans have electrostatically entrapped the maghemite nanoparticles in their sulfate groups. Biocompatibility of the nanocomposite (at different concentrations) against normal cell lines (HEK-293 and L6) was confirmed by MTT assay. Hoechst 33342 and 7-AAD staining studies under fluorescent microscopy revealed that the nanocomposite is able to induce appoptosis as the mode of cell death in human colon cancer cell line (HCT116). Cell apoptosis here is induced by following the ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway, combined with downregulation of the expression levels of mRNA of XIAP and PARP-1 and upregulation of caspase3, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.ConclusionsThis novel nanocomposite is biocompatible with potential properties to serve in magnet aided targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12951-015-0079-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
The advancements in the area of nanoparticles and nanotechnology have offered an understanding and management of the materials at atomic and molecular levels
The ι-car-γ-Gamma maghemite (Fe2O3) nanocomposite has potential as an efficient chemotherapeutic agent, since targeting of chemotherapeutic agents is related to its capacity to induce apoptosis
Our studies on gelation showed that ι-CGN with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles did not require any addition of cations, as γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles themselves served as cations in neutralizing the charges and in promoting gelation
Summary
The advancements in the area of nanoparticles and nanotechnology have offered an understanding and management of the materials at atomic and molecular levels. Ι –Carrageenan (ι –car) is composed of D-galactose4-sulphate (G4S) and 3, 6-anhydro-D-galactose-2-sulfate (DA2S) These biocompatible and biodegradable biomacromolecules are extensively used in food and pharmaceutical industries. They are reported to act as sorbents and aid in binding heavy metals including yttrium (Y3+) and lead ions (Pb2+) [20] This intrinsic metal binding property of carrageenans and other polysaccharides are successfully employed in nanoparticle synthesis and encapsulation; and in making nanoparticles suitable for a broad spectrum of biomedical and biotechnological applications [21]. Carrageenans are naturally occurring hydrophilic, polyanionic polysaccharide bioploymers with wide application in pharmaceutical industries for controlled drug delivery Magnetic nanoparticles with their exceptional properties enable them to be an ideal candidate for the production of functional nanostructures, facilitating them for biomedical applications. Biocompatibility and the anticancer efficacy of the nanocomposite were assayed and analysed in vitro
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