Polyelectrolyte complex containing silver nanoparticles with antitumor property on Caco-2 colon cancer cells

Polyelectrolyte complex (beads) based on N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan/alginate was successful obtained and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were loaded within beads. In vitro cytotoxicity assays using beads/silver nanoparticles (beads/AgNPs) provided results, indicating that this material significantly inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells (Caco-2). In vitro release studies showed that the beads stabilized AgNPs and repressed Ag0 oxidation under gastric conditions (pH 2.0). On the other hand, at physiological condition (pH 7.4) the beads/AgNPs released 3.3 μg of Ag+ per each beads milligram. These studies showed that the concentration of Ag+ released (3.3 μg) was cytotoxic for the Caco-2 cells and was not cytotoxic on healthy VERO cells. This result opens new perspectives for the manufacture of biomaterials based on beads/AgNPs with anti-tumor properties.