Ph-Sensitive Docetaxel-Loaded Chitosan/Thiolated Hyaluronic Acid Polymeric Nanoparticles for Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to develop and evaluate pH-sensitive docetaxel-loaded thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted treatment of colon cancer. Materials & methods: HA-SH, synthesized via oxidation and subsequent covalent linkage to cysteamine, served as the precursor for developing HA-SH NPs through polyelectrolyte complexation involving chitosan and thiol-bearing HA. Results & conclusion: HA-SH NPs displayed favorable characteristics, with small particle sizes (184–270 nm), positive zeta potential (15.4–18.6 mV) and high entrapment efficiency (91.66–95.02%). In vitro, NPs demonstrated potent mucoadhesion and enhanced cytotoxicity compared with free docetaxel. In vivo assessments confirmed safety and biocompatibility, suggesting HA-SH NPs as promising pH-sensitive drug carriers with enhanced antitumor activity for colorectal cancer treatments.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: :

• colon targeting
• mucoadhesive studies
• nanoparticles
• pH-sensitive drug release
• thiolated hyaluronic acid

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: wwww.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2023-0318

Author contributions

S Noreen study conceptualization and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results and manuscript preparation. F Pervaiz and M Ijaz supervised the project. MF Hanif, JR Hamza, I Maqbool, H Mahmood, H Shoukat and MA Ashraf performed analysis and manuscript preparation. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors are highly thankful to H Mahmood (MS Scholar) for critically reviewing the text of this paper. Furthermore, all the authors of the manuscript also thank and acknowledge their respective universities and institutes.

Financial disclosure

This research work was supported by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) indigenous Pakistan. The funder did not have any role in the study design, data collection and analysis or preparation of the manuscript. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that The Pharmacy Animal Ethics Committee, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, approved the animal experiments under reference letter No. PAEC/21/63, dated 16 December 2021.