Preparation, characterization and cytotoxic applications of curcumin-(+/-) alpha-lipoicacid coloaded phosphorylated chitosan nanoparticles in MDA MB231 breast cancer cell line

In the present work, curcumin in combination with (+/-) alpha-Lipoic acid were used as the active agents for the preparation of phosphorylated chitosan nanoparticle. Ionic gelation method was used for the successful fabrication of the nanoparticles. Effective incorporation of the drugs in the polymeric system was revealed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and dynamic light scattering method were used to analyze the morphology and dimensional characteristics of the nanoparticles. The swelling degree and drug release mechanism were studied at pH 5.0 and 7.4 for different time periods by UV-visible spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity study was performed by MTT assay analysis on normal human lymphocyte and MDA MB 231 breast cancer cell line. Trypan blue dye exclusion assay was performed to confirm the anticancer effect of the nanoparticles. The properties of the prepared nanoparticles recommended their possible application as anticancer agents.