Lactoferrin-coated polysaccharide nanoparticles based on chitosan hydrochloride/hyaluronic acid/PEG for treating brain glioma

Curcuminoid (Cur) loaded polysaccharide nanoformulations with blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and brain targeting properties, based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan hydrochloride (CSH) (Lf-Cur-PSNPs) were developed as a novel delivery system for malignant glioma. Formulations were investigated for physicochemical characteristics, cytotoxicity, uptake, and BBB penetration. The results showed that LfM-Cur-PSNPs (concentration of Lf was 0.5 mg/mL) were preferentially taken up by brain capillary endothelial cells than Cur-PSNPs at any time. After crossing the BBB, LfM-Cur-PSNPs remained largely intact and were more effective in targeting glioma cells (C6). In vivo imaging studies in mice exposed LfM-PSNPs could effectively permeate BBB and preferentially accumulate in the brain (2.39 times greater than PSNPs). Moreover, PSNPs were detected in brain up to 72 h. This data indicates that Lf-Cur-PSNPs could effectively target and accumulate within the gliomas after enhanced permeation through BBB, thus should be further explored for their potential in CNS maliganancies.