Synthesis and characterisation of chitosan-encapsulated genistein: its anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic activities

Abstract

Aims: The study was carried out to synthesise and characterise the chitosan-encapsulated genistein (CHI-En/Gen) and determine its anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic properties.

Methods: The cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic activity of CHI-En/Gen was performed using MTT and chorioallantoic membrane assay. The molecular action was determined using flow cytometry and gene expression.

Results: The synthesised CHI-En/Gen was in submicron size, spherical in shape and with entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency of 76.8% (w/w) and 32.6% (w/w), respectively. The CHI-En/Gen notably inhibited the growth and proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells (HT-29) while did not affect the viability of human dermal fibroblast as normal cell. The flow cytometry and the caspase-3 gene expression analyses revealed the apoptotic cells death in the HT-29 cells. Moreover, the encapsulated genistein showed anti-angiogenic activity.

Conclusion: The CHI-En/Gen appeared as a promising carrier for the colon delivery of genistein to be used in complementary health approaches for the cancer prevention.

Keywords:

• Encapsulation
• delivery
• genistein
• colorectal cancer cells
• chitosan

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Mashhad Branch, the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad for providing chemicals and laboratory facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).