Formulation and characterization of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles for enhanced radioprotection
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran
- 2Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 3Gynecologist Oncologist, Gynevology Oncology Department, Firuzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- 4Department of Stem Cells Technology and Tissue Regeneration, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Technologies, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 15614 Iran
- 5Klinika of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Akadémia Košice, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Kosice, Slovakia
- 6Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 7Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 8Department of Pathology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
Ionizing radiation poses a significant threat to human health and necessitates the development of effective radioprotective agents. In this study, the radioprotective efficacy of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles (Rh2-CNPs) was synthesized and evaluated. The Rh2-CNPs were prepared using a modified co-precipitation method. Physicochemical characterization revealed nanoparticles with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 180 ± 15 nm, a zeta potential of -28 ± 2 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 75.3 ± 8.5%, and a loading capacity of 23.4 ± 5.9%, indicating successful drug incorporation and good initial dispersion properties. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a spherical morphology and smooth surfaces. FTIR analysis showed successful encapsulation by hydrogen bonding. In vitro release studies showed a sustained-release profile with 72% drug release after 24 h. In vivo, 32 male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: Control (C), Radiation (R), Free Ginsenoside Rh2(FG) and Nano-Ginsenoside Rh2 (NG). Mice in the FG and NG groups received 150 mg Rh2/kg/day and 75 mg Rh2-equivalent/kg/day, respectively, for 21 days prior to 5 Gy whole-body γ-radiation exposure. Biochemical analyses were performed 24 h after irradiation. Radiation significantly induced oxidative stress and inflammation, as reflected by decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities in the spleen, increased MDA levels, increased proinflammatory cytokines in serum (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ) and decreased immunoregulatory cytokines in the spleen (IL-2, IL-10). Pretreatment with ginsenoside, especially with the NG formulation, effectively mitigated these adverse effects. PCA and hierarchical clustering clearly separated the experimental groups. These results suggest that Rh2-CNPs exhibit radioprotective effects in this acute model.
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BibTeX
@article{zarezardini2026formulation,
title = {{Formulation and characterization of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles for enhanced radioprotection}},
author = {Hadi Zare-Zardini and Reza Nafisi-moghadam and Mojgan Karimi-Zarchi and Hossein Soltaninejad and Elham Saberian and Andrej Jenča and Janka Jenčová and Andrej Jenča Jr. and Adriána Petrášová and Tahreh Fallah and Fatemeh Ghanizadeh and Maryam Vajihinejad and Shokouh Taghipour Zahir},
journal = {BioMedical Engineering OnLine},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Formulation and characterization of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles for enhanced radioprotection
AU - Hadi Zare-Zardini
AU - Reza Nafisi-moghadam
AU - Mojgan Karimi-Zarchi
AU - Hossein Soltaninejad
AU - Elham Saberian
AU - Andrej Jenča
AU - Janka Jenčová
AU - Andrej Jenča Jr.
AU - Adriána Petrášová
AU - Tahreh Fallah
AU - Fatemeh Ghanizadeh
AU - Maryam Vajihinejad
AU - Shokouh Taghipour Zahir
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/09
JO - BioMedical Engineering OnLine
DO - 10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-026-01612-8
AB - Ionizing radiation poses a significant threat to human health and necessitates the development of effective radioprotective agents. In this study, the radioprotective efficacy of ginsenoside Rh2-loaded casein nanoparticles (Rh2-CNPs) was synthesized and evaluated. The Rh2-CNPs were prepared using a modified co-precipitation method. Physicochemical characterization revealed nanoparticles with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 180 ± 15 nm, a zeta potential of -28 ± 2 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 75.3 ± 8.5%, and a loading capacity of 23.4 ± 5.9%, indicating successful drug incorporation and good initial dispersion properties. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a spherical morphology and smooth surfaces. FTIR analysis showed successful encapsulation by hydrogen bonding. In vitro release studies showed a sustained-release profile with 72% drug release after 24 h. In vivo, 32 male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: Control (C), Radiation (R), Free Ginsenoside Rh2(FG) and Nano-Ginsenoside Rh2 (NG). Mice in the FG and NG groups received 150 mg Rh2/kg/day and 75 mg Rh2-equivalent/kg/day, respectively, for 21 days prior to 5 Gy whole-body γ-radiation exposure. Biochemical analyses were performed 24 h after irradiation. Radiation significantly induced oxidative stress and inflammation, as reflected by decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities in the spleen, increased MDA levels, increased proinflammatory cytokines in serum (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ) and decreased immunoregulatory cytokines in the spleen (IL-2, IL-10). Pretreatment with ginsenoside, especially with the NG formulation, effectively mitigated these adverse effects. PCA and hierarchical clustering clearly separated the experimental groups. These results suggest that Rh2-CNPs exhibit radioprotective effects in this acute model.
SN - 1475-925X
ER -