Chitosan coated magnetic cellulose nanowhisker as a drug delivery system for potential colorectal cancer treatment

• Main Authors: Mostafa, Yusefi, Shameli, Kamyar, Soon, Michiele Lee Kiun *, Teow, Sin Yeang, Moeini, Hassan, Roshafima, Rasit Ali, Pooneh, Kia, Jie, Chia Jing, Nurul Hidayah, Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2023
• Subjects: QR Microbiology; RC Internal medicine; TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/2731/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123388

Polysaccharide-based magnetic nanocomposites can eminently illuminate several attractive features as anticancer drug carriers. In this study, rice straw-based cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) was used as solid support for Fe3O4 nanofillers to synthesize magnetic CNW. Then, cross-linked chitosan-coated magnetic CNW for 5-fluorouracil carrier abbreviated as CH/MCNW/5FU. Fourier-transform infrared, X-Ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated successful fabrication and multifunctional properties of the CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites. In addition, CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites showed hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential value of 181.31 ± 3.46 nm and +23 ± 1.8 mV, respectively. Based on images of transmission electron microscopy, magnetic CNW as reinforcement was coated with chitosan to obtain almost spherical CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites with an average diameter of 37.16 ± 3.08. The nanocomposites indicated desired saturation magnetization and thermal stability, high drug encapsulation efficiency, and pH-dependent swelling and drug release performance. CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites showed potent killing effects against colorectal cancer cells in both 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid models. These findings suggest CH/MCNW as a potential carrier for anticancer drugs with high tumour-penetrating capacity.