RESUMEN
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a pleiotropic compound with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. To enhance EGCG anticancer efficacy, it was loaded onto gold nanoparticles (GNPs). EGCG-GNPs were prepared by a simple green synthesis method and were evaluated using different techniques. Hemocompatibility with human blood and in vivo anticancer efficacy in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice were evaluated. EGCG/gold chloride molar ratio had a marked effect on the formation and properties of EGCG-GNPs where well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles were obtained at a molar ratio not more than 0.8:1. The particle size ranged from ~26 to 610 nm. High drug encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of ~93 and 32%, respectively were obtained. When stored at 4 °C for three months, EGCG-GNPs maintained over 90% of their drug payload and had small changes in their size and zeta potential. They were non-hemolytic and had no deleterious effects on partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and complement protein C3 concentration. EGCG-GNPs had significantly better in vivo anticancer efficacy compared with pristine EGCG as evidenced by smaller tumor volume and weight and higher mice body weight. These results confirm that EGCG-GNPs could serve as an efficient delivery system for EGCG with a good potential to enhance its anticancer efficacy.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The design and fabrication of hemocompatible and low-toxicity formulations remains a challenging task. Hydrogels are of considerable importance for biomedical applications since they are highly compatible with living tissue, both in vivo and in vitro. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate the characterizations and in vitro hemocompatibility of a hydrogel using polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin with different concentrations. METHODS: The gelling process was realized by cross-linking the polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin. The morphological and structural examinations of the synthetic hydrogels were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The swelling behavior of the prepared hydrogels in water was evaluated. Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time were measured, and a hemolysis test was done to evaluate the hemocompatibility of prepared hydrogels. RESULTS: The increase of the gelatin concentration in polyvinyl gelatin hydrogel increases the porosity and enhances the absorptivity of the prepared hydrogel. The measured hematological parameters indicated enhancement of hemocompatibility as the gelatin concentration was increased in the prepared hydrogel. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this study confirm that gelatin was able to improve the properties of the polyvinyl alcohol-gelatin hydrogel and enhance the hemocompatibility. Thus, the prepared hydrogel could be used in a variety of biomedical applications.