Synthesis and evaluation of hydrophobically modified fenugreek gum for potential hepatic drug delivery

Abstract

The objective of this study was to hydrophobically modify fenugreek gum (FG) and to further evaluate the potential application of the obtained derivative in liver-targeted drug delivery system. Stearic acid (C₁₈) was conjugated with FG (FG-C₁₈) by a simple esterification reaction. The obtained FG-C₁₈ was then characterized on its chemical structure by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. The self-assembled nanomicelles (NMs) of FG-C₁₈ in water were prepared by an ultrasonication method. The average diameter and zeta potential of FG-C₁₈ NMs were 196.70 ± 6.12 nm and −31.79 ± 1.58 mV, respectively. FG-C₁₈ NMs appeared as spherical particles under transmission electron microscopy and possessed a critical micellar concentration of 0.042 mg/ml by pyrene fluorescence probe method. A low toxicity of FG-C₁₈ was revealed on both HepG2 and MCF-7 cells at 0.1–100 mg/ml. Haemolysis of FG-C₁₈ was less than 5%. Cellular uptake of coumarin-6 into HepG2 cells was enhanced by treating with C6-loaded FG-C₁₈ NMs compared to free coumarin-6. These results suggest that FG-C₁₈ have a potential application for a liver targeted drug delivery.

Keywords:

• Fenugreek gum
• hydrophobic modification
• liver-targeted drug delivery
• nanomicelles

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia [NZ17184] and National Natural Science Foundation of China [81360644].