Development of anticancer drug loaded nanoparticle and in-vitro evaluation

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer which remains asymptomatic in its early stages, leading to 1.8 million diagnoses per year. If detected at an early stage, it can be treated through chemotherapy, with 5-Fluorouracil being a promising treatment option. However, this medication is accompanied by a significant number of side effects, making the treatment process unpleasant for patients. In this study, 5- FU was loaded into chitosan nanoparticles using an ionic gelation method, with the aim of reducing the drug's side effects and evaluating the cytotoxicity of the prepared nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized in terms of particle size, particle size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation efficacy, in-vitro release, and in-vitro cytotoxicity. The nanoparticles were prepared in a pH of 4.5 using a 5:1 chitosan to tripolyphosphate ratio, resulting in a particle size of 217.03 ± 10.41, a PdI of 0.37 ± 0.11, and a zeta potential of 0.02 ± 0.02. The encapsulation efficacy was calculated as 15.69%, with a sustained release profile of approximately 40% over 24 hours. The cytotoxicity analysis showed that 5-FU-loaded chitosan nanoparticles effectively stopped the proliferation of CT-26 colorectal cancer cells with a lower concentration of 5-FU compared to free 5-FU. In conclusion, the prepared nanoparticles exhibit stable, uniform distribution, appropriate particle size, and efficient encapsulation capability. Furthermore, they demonstrate an initial burst release followed by sustained release after 24 hours, making them a promising candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancer with further in-vivo investigations and clinical trials.