Cellulose Nanocrystals/Chitosan-Based Nanosystems: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cellular Uptake on Breast Cancer Cells

Autor(es)

Pinto, Ricardo J. B. ^[1] ; Lameirinhas, Nicole S. ^[1] ; Guedes, Gabriela ^[1] ; Rodrigues da Silva, Gustavo H. ^[1] ; Oskoei, Parastu ^[2] ; Spirk, Stefan ^[3] ; Oliveira, Helena ^[2] ; Duarte, Iola F. ^[1] ; Vilela, Carla ^[1] ; Freire, Carmen S. R. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Aveiro, CICECO Aveiro Inst Mat, Dept Chem, P-3810193 Aveiro - Portugal

^[2] Univ Aveiro, Dept Biol, CESAM Ctr Environm & Marine Studies, P-3810193 Aveiro - Portugal

^[3] Graz Univ Technol, Inst Bioprod & Paper Technol, Inffeldgasse 23, A-8010 Graz - Austria

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: NANOMATERIALS; v. 11, n. 8 AUG 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are elongated biobased nanostructures with unique characteristics that can be explored as nanosystems in cancer treatment. Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and cellular uptake on folate receptor (FR)-positive breast cancer cells of nanosystems based on CNCs and a chitosan (CS) derivative are investigated. The physical adsorption of the CS derivative, containing a targeting ligand (folic acid, FA) and an imaging agent (fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC), on the surface of the CNCs was studied as an eco-friendly methodology to functionalize CNCs. The fluorescent CNCs/FA-CS-FITC nanosystems with a rod-like morphology showed good stability in simulated physiological and non-physiological conditions and non-cytotoxicity towards MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. These functionalized CNCs presented a concentration-dependent cellular internalization with a 5-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity for the nanosystem with the higher FA content. Furthermore, the exometabolic profile of the MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to the CNCs/FA-CS-FITC nanosystems disclosed a moderate impact on the cells' metabolic activity, limited to decreased choline uptake and increased acetate release, which implies an anti-proliferative effect. The overall results demonstrate that the CNCs/FA-CS-FITC nanosystems, prepared by an eco-friendly approach, have a high affinity towards FR-positive cancer cells and thus might be applied as nanocarriers with imaging properties for active targeted therapy. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/24814-0 - Metabolômica in vitro de nanopartículas lipídicas funcionais carreadas com anestésico local
• Beneficiário: Gustavo Henrique Rodrigues da Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Doutorado