Characterization and anti-tumor effects of chondroitin sulfate–chitosan nanoparticles delivery system

We prepared chondroitin sulfate (ChS)–chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) as a delivery carrier, and doxorubicin (Dox) was used as a model drug. The physicochemical properties and biological activities of the Dox–ChS–CS NPs including the release profile, cell cytotoxicity, cellular internalization, and in vivo anti-tumor effects were evaluated. The ChS–CS NPs and Dox–ChS–CS NPs had a mean size of 262.0 ± 15.0 and 369.4 ± 77.4 nm, and a zeta potential of 30.2 ± 0.9 and 20.6 ± 3.1 mV, respectively. In vitro release tests showed that the 50 % release time for the Dox–ChS–CS NPs was 20 h. Two hepatoma cell models, HepG2 and HuH6, were used for evaluating the cytotoxicity and cell uptake efficiency of the Dox–ChS–CS NPs. A significant difference was observed between doxorubicin solution and the Dox–ChS–CS NPs in the cellular uptake within 60 min (p < 0.01). For the in vivo human xenograft-nude mouse model, the Dox–ChS–CS NPs were more effective with less body weight loss and anti-tumor growth suppression in comparison with the Dox solution. The prepared Dox–ChS–CS NPs offer a new effective targeting nanoparticle delivery system platform for anti-tumor therapy.