Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of 5-fluorouracil loaded into chitosan–acacia gum nanoparticles

Aim: In this study, we prepared, characterized and in vitro evaluated a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded chitosan–acacia gum nanoparticles. Methods: Nanoparticles were characterized for their size, charge, morphology and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) followed by cellular investigations against HT-29 colon cancer cell line. Results: The nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphological size with 94.42% EE%. Free 5-FU showed a fast and fully cumulative release after 6 h while 5-FU loaded into CS-AG NPs showed good entrapment and slow, prolonged 5-FU release even after 24 h. Enhanced IC50 for the 5-FU loaded NPs compared with free 5-FU against HT-29 colon cancer cell line was reported with high selectivity compared with normal fibroblast cells. Conclusion: 5-FU loaded NPs is promising nano-therapy against colon cancer. This study focuses on the preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of chitosan–acacia gum (CS–AG) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). CS–AG:5-FU were prepared via a simple ionic gelation method. CS–AG:5-FU were characterized for their size, charge, morphology and encapsulation efficiency (EE%). CS–AG:5-FU exhibited a spherical morphology with a uniform size with 94.42% EE%. CS–AG:5-FU displayed a good stability even after lyophilization. Free 5-FU showed a fast and fully cumulative release through a dialysis membrane against phosphate-buffered saline buffer after 6 h while 5-FU loaded into CS–AG:5-FU showed good entrapment and slow, prolonged 5-FU release even after 24 h. The results showed an enhanced IC50 for CS–AG:5-FU compared with free 5-FU against HT-29 colon cancer cell line with high selectivity compared with normal fibroblast cell lines. CS–AG:5-FU may be promising targeted nanocarrier to elucidate targeted bioactivity against colon cancer.