Antitumoral activities of λ‑carrageenan oligosaccharide- based nanoparticles
Abstract
Polysaccharides (PS) are key building blocks for bioactive nanomaterials in oncology, as they enhance colloidal stability, enable chemical functionalization, support controlled delivery systems, and, for selected families, provide targeting or therapeutic activities. However, despite their high biomedical potential, PS families such as λ-carrageenan (λ-CAR) have remained virtually unexplored in nano-oncology, as poor solubility, restrictive rheological properties, and undesired anticoagulant and pro-inflammatory effects constitute a major barrier to systemic use in vivo. In a recent study, we showed that depolymerized λ-carrageenan oligosaccharides (λ-COS) overcome these limitations and enable the design of stable hybrid nanoparticles embedding free Mn²⁺ ions and ultrasmall ferrite cores (λ-COS NP), exhibiting excellent colloidal stability, in vivo compatibility, and efficient MRI contrast capabilities. Building on this work, the present study investigates the inherent antitumor potential of these “unlocked” λ-COS NP, harnessing the known complementary bioactive properties of the λ-COS scaffold and those of the ferrite/Mn2+ cargo. The λ-COS NP effectively inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells and suppressed heparanase (HPSE) activity, a key enzyme involved in tumor invasiveness. Moreover, λ-COS NP were efficiently internalized by RAW 264.7 macrophages and reprogrammed M2-like polarized cells toward an antitumor phenotype by restoring TNF-α and nitric oxide production. Preclinical studies in an MDA-MB-231 xenograft mouse model revealed efficient tumor accumulation and MRI detectability following intravenous administration, and a 50% reduction in tumor growth at the end of the therapeutic assays. Collectively, these results highlight λ-COS NP as promising tumor microenvironment–targeted nanotherapeutics with integrated bioactivities and imaging-tracking potential.
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BibTeX
@article{saliba2026antitumoral,
title = {{Antitumoral activities of λ‑carrageenan oligosaccharide- based nanoparticles}},
author = {Jennifer Saliba and Manon Porta Zapata and Claudia Miranda-Perez de Alejo and Rachida Mersni and Ainhize Urkola-Arsuaga and Benjamin Musnier and Julien Cherfan and Alma Sánchez-Téllez and Thierry Maugard and Denis Biard and Luc Bousset and Kevin Baranger and Céline Trinh Le Vi Kieu and Véronique Gigoux and Jesùs Ruiz-Cabello and Ingrid Fruitier-Arnaudin and Susana Carregal-Romero and Hugo Groult},
journal = {Journal of Nanobiotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1186/s12951-026-04651-4},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05734788v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Antitumoral activities of λ‑carrageenan oligosaccharide- based nanoparticles
AU - Jennifer Saliba
AU - Manon Porta Zapata
AU - Claudia Miranda-Perez de Alejo
AU - Rachida Mersni
AU - Ainhize Urkola-Arsuaga
AU - Benjamin Musnier
AU - Julien Cherfan
AU - Alma Sánchez-Téllez
AU - Thierry Maugard
AU - Denis Biard
AU - Luc Bousset
AU - Kevin Baranger
AU - Céline Trinh Le Vi Kieu
AU - Véronique Gigoux
AU - Jesùs Ruiz-Cabello
AU - Ingrid Fruitier-Arnaudin
AU - Susana Carregal-Romero
AU - Hugo Groult
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/14
JO - Journal of Nanobiotechnology
DO - 10.1186/s12951-026-04651-4
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05734788v1
AB - Polysaccharides (PS) are key building blocks for bioactive nanomaterials in oncology, as they enhance colloidal stability, enable chemical functionalization, support controlled delivery systems, and, for selected families, provide targeting or therapeutic activities. However, despite their high biomedical potential, PS families such as λ-carrageenan (λ-CAR) have remained virtually unexplored in nano-oncology, as poor solubility, restrictive rheological properties, and undesired anticoagulant and pro-inflammatory effects constitute a major barrier to systemic use in vivo. In a recent study, we showed that depolymerized λ-carrageenan oligosaccharides (λ-COS) overcome these limitations and enable the design of stable hybrid nanoparticles embedding free Mn²⁺ ions and ultrasmall ferrite cores (λ-COS NP), exhibiting excellent colloidal stability, in vivo compatibility, and efficient MRI contrast capabilities. Building on this work, the present study investigates the inherent antitumor potential of these “unlocked” λ-COS NP, harnessing the known complementary bioactive properties of the λ-COS scaffold and those of the ferrite/Mn2+ cargo. The λ-COS NP effectively inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells and suppressed heparanase (HPSE) activity, a key enzyme involved in tumor invasiveness. Moreover, λ-COS NP were efficiently internalized by RAW 264.7 macrophages and reprogrammed M2-like polarized cells toward an antitumor phenotype by restoring TNF-α and nitric oxide production. Preclinical studies in an MDA-MB-231 xenograft mouse model revealed efficient tumor accumulation and MRI detectability following intravenous administration, and a 50% reduction in tumor growth at the end of the therapeutic assays. Collectively, these results highlight λ-COS NP as promising tumor microenvironment–targeted nanotherapeutics with integrated bioactivities and imaging-tracking potential.
SN - 1477-3155
ER -