Synthesis and characterization of polyoxometalates loaded starch nanocomplex and its antitumoral activity

Abstract

According to a water-in-oil emulsion technique using POCl 3 as a cross-linking agent, starch nanoparticles have been prepared. Using this starch nanoparticles, loaded polyoxometalates (POMs) α-K 8H 6 [Si 2W 18Ti 6O 77] (Si 2W 18Ti 6) have been prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. The result shows that the Si 2W 18Ti 6 molecule retains its parent structure after encapsulated by starch nanoparticles and Si 2W 18Ti 6 incorporates into starch matrix to form the nanoparticles. This new complex exhibits higher stability, antitumoral activity and can extend the survival days of the mice with tumor owing to the encapsulation by starch nanoparticles. The Si 2W 18Ti 6 has tested negative for mutagenicity in the standard Ames assay with TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102, indicating that Si 2W 18Ti 6 has no mutagenic effect in the microsome suspension assay.