{
  "abstract": "Introduction: Psoralen (PSO) is an anticancer agent with a potential role in breast cancer management. Its clinical application, however, is significantly limited by poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, the development of advanced PSO delivery systems is essential to enhance its therapeutic potential.\n\nMethods: In this study, a novel nano-delivery platform was constructed by encapsulating PSO into zein nanoparticles (NPs) followed by surface modification with fucoidan (Fu), yielding PSO-Z/F NPs.\n\nResults: Successful surface modification was confirmed by a reversal in ζ potential from positive values to −24.8 ± 0.02 mV, an increase in particle size to 129.23 ± 0.18 nm, characteristic changes in sulfate-related Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) bands, and the appearance of an S 2p signal in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PSO-Z/F NPs exhibited a uniform spherical morphology, with an encapsulation efficiency of 73.13 ± 0.98% and a drug-loading capacity of 5.40 ± 0.35%. Cellular uptake of PSO-Z/F NPs was 1.6-fold higher than that of uncoated PSO-Z NPs ( P < 0.05). In vitro , PSO-Z/F NPs significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 4T1 breast cancer cells. Specifically, wound closure rate decreased from 29.13 ± 3.33 % in the control group to 5.02 ± 2.86% ( P < 0.001). Compared with the PSO group, the number of migrated cells decreased from 220 ± 33 to 146 ± 20 ( P < 0.01), while that of invaded cells decreased from 144 ± 21 to 90 ± 8 ( P < 0.05). Moreover, PSO-Z/F NPs increased the total apoptosis rate from 6.45% in the control group to 17.98% ( P < 0.01). In addition, hemolysis assays showed reduced hemolytic activity, while serum-incubation studies confirmed improved colloidal stability, as evidenced by minimal changes in particle size and PDI over 7 days. Notably, in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence analysis of tumors and major organs in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice showed efficient tumor accumulation of PSO-Z/F NPs, and pharmacodynamic studies indicated enhanced tumor growth inhibition with an acceptable biosafety profile.\n\nDiscussion: Overall, PSO-Z/F NPs may provide a potential nanoparticle-based delivery strategy for improving the therapeutic application of psoralen in breast cancer.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Zhuang Medicine Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine",
    "Second Clinical Medical School, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine",
    "School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Huiqiong Guo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jing Liang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Haili Huang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zimo Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xin Huang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zongxi Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yinghong Huang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3fdxhcxs122jv.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727547/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "3fdxhcxs122jv",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270/full",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2502|Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222997716",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727547/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13727547",
  "pmid": "42978755",
  "published": "2026-10-20",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3fdxhcxs122jv.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:46Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13727547",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13727547"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-06T12:23:24Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13727547",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2502|Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sulfated polysaccharide-coated protein nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of psoralen in breast cancer therapy",
  "title_text": "Sulfated polysaccharide-coated protein nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of psoralen in breast cancer therapy",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:20:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3fdxhcxs122jv",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}