Preparation and characterization of cardamom extract-loaded gelatin nanoparticles as effective targeted drug delivery system to treat glioblastoma

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to prepare and characterize cardamom extract-loaded gelatin nanoparticles (CE-loaded GNPs) with a diameter ≤200nm as a potent drug delivery system (DDS) for treatment of glioblastoma, which is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor. The BBB poses physical and biological limitations to drug diffusion to reach target tissues. Polymeric nanoparticles, like gelatin, are suitable vehicles for drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS). They are able to cross the BBB. Hence, we prepared CE-loaded GNPs by a two-step desolvation method. Seizures are detrimental secondary effects of brain tumors. Therefore, we used cardamom extract, which is an herbal anticancer and antiepileptic drug without any side effects, instead of synthetic drugs to load in gelatin nanoparticles during the particles preparation. We also prepared gelatin Type A and Type B nanoparticles for size comparison. Encapsulation efficiency, mean particle size, zeta potential and in vitro release profile were performed, and particle size analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV–Vis spectrophotometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were employed to evaluate structural and physicochemical properties of the samples. CE-loaded GNPs were obtained with diameters of 40–200nm, zeta potential of −40.1mV and entrapment efficiency (EE) of 70%. The ratio of extract to polymer, 1:20, was revealed to be more suitable in obtaining smaller nanoparticles without any precipitate or aggregation. We also examined cytotoxic effects of CE and CE-loaded GNPs on human glioblastoma cancer U87MG cells.