Preparation and characterization of self-assemblied nanoparticles based on folic acid modified carboxymethyl chitosan

Folate (FA) modified carboxymethyl chitosan (FCC) has been synthesized and the hydrogel nanoparticles can be prepared after the sonication. Formation and characteristics of nanoparticles of FCC were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering methods. The critical aggregation concentration value of FCC in water was 9.34 × 10⁻² mg/ml and the mean hydrodynamic diameter of particle was 267.8 nm. The morphology of nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy which had spherical shape. Loading capacity (LC), loading efficiency (LE) and the in vitro release profiles of nanoparticles were investigated by doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug. When the initially added amount of DOX versus the constant amount of FCC polymer was increased, the LC in the nanoparticles was gradually increased and the LE decreased. The in vitro release profile of the DOX from the FCC nanoparticles exhibited sustained release. Cellular uptake of FCC nanoparticles was found to be higher than that of nanoparticles based on linoleic acid (LA) modified carboxymethyl chitosan because of the FA-receptor-mediated endocytosis, thereby providing higher cytotoxicity against Hela cells.