The role of the lecithin addition in the properties and cytotoxic activity of chitosan and chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles containing curcumin.

Surfactants have been used as a tool to improve the properties of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and to increase the rate of hydrophobic drug release by means of these nanoparticles. In this context, this study evaluated the effect of lecithin on the characteristics of chitosan (CHI) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) nanoparticles, when applied in curcumin (Curc) release. CHI/CS NPs and CHI/CS/Lecithin NPs were prepared by the ionic gelation method, both as standards and containing curcumin. Simultaneous conductimetric and potentiometric titrations were employed to optimize the interaction between the polymers. NPs with hydrodynamic diameter of ∼130 nm and zeta potential of +60 mV were obtained and characterized by HRTEM; their pore size and surface area were also analyzed by BET method, DLS, FTIR, XPS, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques to assess morphological and surface properties, stability and interaction between polymers and to quantify the loading of drugs. The final characteristics of NPs were directly influenced by lecithin addition, exhibiting enhanced encapsulation efficiency of curcumin (131.8 µg curcumin per mg CHI/CS/Lecithin/Curc NPs). The release of curcumin occurred gradually through a two-stage process: diffusion-controlled dissolution and release of curcumin controlled by dissolution of the polymer. However, the release of curcumin in buffer solution at pH 7.4 was achieved faster in CHI/CS/Lecithin/Curc NPs than in CHI/CS/Curc NPs. in vitro cytotoxic activity evaluation of the curcumin was determined by the MTT assay, observing that free curcumin and curcumin nanoencapsulated in CHI/CS/Curc and CHI/CS/Lecithin/Curc NPs reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in the 72 h period (by 28.4, 36.0 and 30.7%, P < 0.0001, respectively). These results indicate that CHI/CS/Lecithin NPs have more appropriate characteristics for encapsulation of curcumin.

Development of a Promising Antitumor Compound Based on Rhodium(II) Succinate Associated with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Coated with Lauric Acid/Albumin Hybrid: Synthesis, Colloidal Stability and Cytotoxic Effect in Breast Carcinoma Cells.

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new rhodium(II) succinate complex (Rh2(suc)4) and its immobilization on lauric acid bilayer-coated maghemite nanoparticles (MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4) and subsequent adsorption with bovine serum albumin (MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4/BSA). Rh2(suc)4 has been characterized by elemental analysis, potentiometric titration, TGA, MS, FTIR and UV-Vis analysis. The maghemite phase was confirmed by XRD, and a diameter of 10 nm was obtained by Sherrer equation. The VSM experiment showed superparamagnetic properties. TEM showed nanoparticles with a spherical shape and a mean diameter of 8.5±0.4 and 9.1 ± 0.4 nm for MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4 and MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4/BSA, respectively. FTIR and TGA confirmed the immobilization of Rh2(suc)4 and bovine serum albumin adsorption on superparamagnetic iron oxide. Hydrodynamic size (DH) and zeta potential (ζ) measurements were made in aqueous, NaCl and DMEM media. DH for dispersions was lower in aqueous medium, but increased in saline and DMEM media. In aqueous and saline media, ζ was not altered for MGH-2L and MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4, but was significantly lower for MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4/BSA. Therefore, MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4/BSA was the most stable dispersion, meaning that BSA coating prevents aggregation more than lauric acid bilayer coating. MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4 and MGH-2L/Rh2(suc)4/BSA dispersions induced cytotoxicity in breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and fibroblast cells in culture, and this effect was higher than that exerted by free Rh2(suc)4 and more specific to breast carcinoma cells than to fibroblasts. Therefore, we suggest that these dispersions have an important potential for future clinical applications and, thus, they should be considered a platform to enhance Rh2(suc)4 cytotoxicity, specifically in breast carcinoma.