Polyelectrolyte complexes of carboxymethyl chitosan/alginate based drug carrier for targeted and controlled release of dual drug

Abstract Colorectal cancer is the third most principal reason of death due to cancer. The applicability of the chemo drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is limited due to its non-specificity, low bioavailability and overdose. The efficiency of 5-FU in colorectal cancer therapy could be enhanced by nanoencapsulation and combinatorial approach with Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC). In the present work, a new pH sensitive bioactive aminated mesoporous silica–alginate/folic acid conjugated o-carboxymethylchitosan-gelatin (AMSN-Alg/FA-CMCT-Gel) nanocomposite system has been developed to construct for the safe loading of 5-FU and BDC and helps to overcome the limitations of colon cancer. The dual drug delivery system (DDDS) was characterized by means of FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, DLS, Zeta potential, and BET adsorption isotherm. The information obtained from the characterization techniques exposed the successful formation of the nanodrug carrier. The 5-FU and BDC loaded DDDS was found to be blood compatible. The in vitro drug release profile in pHs 1.2 and 7.4 showed a sustained release profile over a period of 48 h. The combinatorial approach of 5-FU and BDC in HCT116 cells proved anticancer effects and intracellular uptake of the drug into DDDS was confirmed by Confocal Microscopy.