Nanofibrous mats coated by homocharged biopolymer-layered silicate nanoparticles and their antitumor activity

Quaternized chitosan (QC)-organic rectorite (OREC) intercalated composites based nanoparticles were immobilized on cellulose acetate nanofibrous mats by layer-by-layer deposition technique via hydrogen bonds. The key design of those mats was the utilization of all negatively charged materials to reduce the quantity of nanoparticles immobilized on the fibers and then the cytotoxicity of the mats. The intercalated structure in nanoparticles was confirmed by selected area electron diffraction. The morphology and composition of NPs-assembled nanofibrous mats were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results trended to give clues as how the assembly process varied by adding OREC. MTT assay and cell culture experiments showed that NPs-assembled nanofibrous mats were commendably compatible with normal cells and could selectively kill human lung carcinoma epithelial cells. Hemolysis test indicated these mats had excellent blood compatibility. As a result, QC-OREC NPs-assembled nanofibrous mats by homocharged deposition process can be considered as a novel alternative method for cancer therapy.

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► Fabrication of QC-OREC composites based NPs.
► Immobilization of NPs and alginate on cellulose acetate nanofibers.
► Characterization of NPs and assembled nanofibrous mats.
► Investigate the cytotoxicity of mats to L929 cells.
► Study the antitumor activity of the mats to A549 cells.