<i>In Vitro</i> Evaluation of Folate-Targeted Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded with Hydroxycamptothecin

Abstract

We prepared FA-targeted and 10-hydroxycamptothecin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (FA-HCPT-NPs) with a combination of emulsion-solvent evaporation and chemical crosslinking method. In vitro cytotoxicity test to the Human Cervix Carcinoma cells (HeLa) was evaluated by cell morphology and internalization observation. The specicity of the FA-HCPT-NPs targeting cancerous cells was demonstrated by comparative intracellular uptake of HCPT-NPs and commercial availible HCPT injection. Laser confocal scanning imaging proved that FA-HCPT-NPs could greatly enhance up-take by HeLa cells. The morphological changes of HeLa cells showed the FA-HCPT-NPs could inhibit HeLa cells more effectively than HCPT-NPs and HCPT. The results indicated that the novel FA-HCPT-NPs could be a potential drug delivery system for tumor cell-selective targeting therapy.

Folic Acid Conjugated Chitosan Nanoparticles for Tumor Targeting of Therapeutic and Imaging Agents

“…Chang et al [120] loaded the HCPT into chitosan nanoparticles covalently linked to folate (FA-HCPT-NPs) using a combination of emulsion-solvent evaporation and chemical cross-linking methods. The FA-HCPT-NPs targeting ability was demonstrated by comparative intracellular uptake (in HeLa cells) of HCPT-NPs against a commercial available HCPT injection.…”