chitosan + folic acid + selenium nanoparticles

Chitosan + folic acid + selenium nanoparticles is a research-stage nanoparticle formulation designed for targeted cancer therapy and drug delivery. The system consists of a selenium nanoparticle (SeNP) core, which possesses intrinsic anticancer and antioxidant properties, stabilized by a chitosan coating. The chitosan shell is functionalized with folic acid, which serves as a targeting ligand for the folate receptor alpha (FOLR1), a protein frequently overexpressed on the surface of various cancer cells. This targeting mechanism facilitates receptor-mediated endocytosis, allowing for the selective accumulation of the nanoparticles within tumor tissues. Beyond its role as a carrier, the selenium core can induce apoptosis in cancer cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage. The formulation has been explored in preclinical studies for delivering chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin, as well as gene therapies including mRNA and siRNA, and has shown potential in treating drug-resistant cancers and providing hepatoprotection against oxidative stress.

Other names

folic acid-conjugated chitosan-coated selenium nanoparticlesfolate-targeted chitosan-selenium nanoparticleschitosan-folic acid-selenium nanoparticle complex