Fabrication of folic acid decorated reductive-responsive starch-based microcapsules for targeted drug delivery via sonochemical method

Abstract

In this present study, original, biodegradable, biocompatible, non-immunogenic and non-poisonous folic acid (FA) decorated reductive-responsive starch-based microcapsules (FA-RSMCs) were designed and fabricated via the sonochemical method for targeted delivery and controlled release of hydrophobic drugs. A green hydrophobic fluorescent dye, Coumarin 6 (C6), was encapsulated into the FA-RSMCs as a substitute of hydrophobic drugs. The as-synthesized C6-loaded FA-RSMCs were characterized by DLS, SEM and TEM. The results indicated that the obtained C6-loaded FA-RSMCs had an appropriate size range and could enter into the bloodstream with their splendid stability. Moreover, C6-loaded FA-RSMCs showed a high selectivity to Hela cells, and a brilliant targeted drugs delivery and reductive-responsive release ability for hydrophobic drugs, particularly for hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs.

Keywords: Folic acid (FA); Microcapsule; Reductive-responsive; Sonochemical; Starch; Targeted delivery and controlled release.