Fabrication, characterization and cytotoxicity studies of ionically cross-linked docetaxel loaded chitosan nanoparticles

• Ionically cross-linked DTX-CH-NP prepared by ionotropic gelation.
• Influence of fabrication conditions on micromeritics investigated.
• Spherically shaped nanoparticles with an average size of 159.2–220.7 nm.
• Nanoparticles released 78–82% of drug following Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics.
• An increase of 25% MDA-MB-231 cell line growth inhibition by nanoparticles.

The present investigation aimed at the fabrication and characterization of ionically cross-linked docetaxel (DTX) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (DTX-CH-NP) using ionic gelation technique with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as the cross-linking agent. The formulated nanoparticles were characterized in terms of particle size, drug entrapment efficiency (EE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in vitro release and cytotoxicity studies. Formulation factors (chitosan, TPP and drug concentration) were examined systematically for their effects on size of the nanoparticles. The average size of the nanoparticles was observed to be in the range of 159.2 ± 3.31 to 220.7 ± 2.23 nm with 78–92% encapsulation efficiency (EE). The in vitro cytotoxicity studies on breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231) revealed the advantages of DTX-CH-NP over pure DTX with approximately 85% cell viability reduction. The results indicate that systematic modulation of the surface charge and particle size of ionically cross-linked nanoparticles can be readily achieved with the right control of critical processing parameters. Thus, DTX-CH-NP presents a promising delivery alternative for breast cancer treatment.