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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Pharmacology

Sulfated polysaccharide-coated protein nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of psoralen in breast cancer therapy

  • Huiqiong Guo1
  • Jing Liang1
  • Haili Huang2
  • Zimo Zhang2
  • Xin Huang1
  • Zongxi Sun2
  • Yinghong Huang1,3
  1. 1Zhuang Medicine Clinical Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine
  2. 2Second Clinical Medical School, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine
  3. 3School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
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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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Discussion: Overall, PSO-Z/F NPs may provide a potential nanoparticle-based delivery strategy for improving the therapeutic application of psoralen in breast cancer.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{guo2026sulfated,
  title = {{Sulfated polysaccharide-coated protein nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of psoralen in breast cancer therapy}},
  author = {Huiqiong Guo and Jing Liang and Haili Huang and Zimo Zhang and Xin Huang and Zongxi Sun and Yinghong Huang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Sulfated polysaccharide-coated protein nanoparticles for enhanced delivery of psoralen in breast cancer therapy
AU  - Huiqiong Guo
AU  - Jing Liang
AU  - Haili Huang
AU  - Zimo Zhang
AU  - Xin Huang
AU  - Zongxi Sun
AU  - Yinghong Huang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO  - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1888270/full
AB  - 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.  Methods: 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.  Results: 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.  Discussion: Overall, PSO-Z/F NPs may provide a potential nanoparticle-based delivery strategy for improving the therapeutic application of psoralen in breast cancer.
SN  - 1663-9812
ER  -