Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models

Celastrol is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cancers. However, its low water solubility and poor tumour selection represent major pitfalls for clinical application. In the present study, gold nanoparticle (AuNP) firstly was conjugated with PVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (...

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Main Authors: Siukan Law, Albert Wingnang Leung, Chuanshan Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
Series:Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2020.1725025
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author Siukan Law
Albert Wingnang Leung
Chuanshan Xu
author_facet Siukan Law
Albert Wingnang Leung
Chuanshan Xu
author_sort Siukan Law
collection DOAJ
description Celastrol is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cancers. However, its low water solubility and poor tumour selection represent major pitfalls for clinical application. In the present study, gold nanoparticle (AuNP) firstly was conjugated with PVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (Polymer) and celastrol then modified by folic acid. The as-prepared folate receptor-targeted celastrol AuNP (FCA) was characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrometry, transmission electron microscope, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The physical properties of FCA were also determined in solubility, drug encapsulation and in vitro drug release. Its anticancer activities were assessed in the 2D and 3D breast cancer models. The results showed that FCA was synthesized successfully with good solubility, high encapsulation efficiency and loading content. FCA showed the optimal cumulative release at pH 5.0 and high cellular uptake and exhibited significant inhibition on breast cancer cells. FCA also induced more significant apoptosis either in 2D and 3D breast cancer model than the celastrol AuNP and celastrol alone. These findings demonstrate that FCA improves water solubility of celastrol and enhances its anticancer activities against breast cancer. FCA might be a potential candidate of anticancer drug for breast cancer in the future if further development.
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issn 2169-1401
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spelling doaj-art-3938fdff90844de18aa3bd734f73239a2025-08-20T04:02:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArtificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology2169-14012169-141X2020-01-0148154255910.1080/21691401.2020.1725025Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer modelsSiukan Law0Albert Wingnang Leung1Chuanshan Xu2Key Laboratory of Molecular Target and Clinical Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaAsia-Pacific Institute of Aging Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Molecular Target and Clinical Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaCelastrol is used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cancers. However, its low water solubility and poor tumour selection represent major pitfalls for clinical application. In the present study, gold nanoparticle (AuNP) firstly was conjugated with PVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (Polymer) and celastrol then modified by folic acid. The as-prepared folate receptor-targeted celastrol AuNP (FCA) was characterized using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrometry, transmission electron microscope, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The physical properties of FCA were also determined in solubility, drug encapsulation and in vitro drug release. Its anticancer activities were assessed in the 2D and 3D breast cancer models. The results showed that FCA was synthesized successfully with good solubility, high encapsulation efficiency and loading content. FCA showed the optimal cumulative release at pH 5.0 and high cellular uptake and exhibited significant inhibition on breast cancer cells. FCA also induced more significant apoptosis either in 2D and 3D breast cancer model than the celastrol AuNP and celastrol alone. These findings demonstrate that FCA improves water solubility of celastrol and enhances its anticancer activities against breast cancer. FCA might be a potential candidate of anticancer drug for breast cancer in the future if further development.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2020.1725025CelastrolPVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylategold nanoparticles (AuNP)folic acidfolate receptor-targeted celastrol AuNP (FCA)breast cancer
spellingShingle Siukan Law
Albert Wingnang Leung
Chuanshan Xu
Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology
Celastrol
PVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate
gold nanoparticles (AuNP)
folic acid
folate receptor-targeted celastrol AuNP (FCA)
breast cancer
title Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
title_full Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
title_fullStr Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
title_full_unstemmed Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
title_short Folic acid-modified celastrol nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
title_sort folic acid modified celastrol nanoparticles synthesis characterization anticancer activity in 2d and 3d breast cancer models
topic Celastrol
PVP-co-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate
gold nanoparticles (AuNP)
folic acid
folate receptor-targeted celastrol AuNP (FCA)
breast cancer
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2020.1725025
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AT albertwingnangleung folicacidmodifiedcelastrolnanoparticlessynthesischaracterizationanticanceractivityin2dand3dbreastcancermodels
AT chuanshanxu folicacidmodifiedcelastrolnanoparticlessynthesischaracterizationanticanceractivityin2dand3dbreastcancermodels