Fabrication and characterization of Chitosan Nanocarriers for Erucin Delivery Using Ionic Gelation Techniques
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17977/um067v6i62026p3Keywords:
Chitosan Nanoparticles, Erucin, Ionic Gelation, Eruca Sativa , Drug Delivery SystemAbstract
Background: The incorporation of nanotechnology and bioactive molecules represents a boundary in modern pharmacology, aiming to improve the bioavailability and stability of plant-derived chemicals. This study focuses on the evolution of a novel drug delivery system using chitosan nanocarriers to encapsulate erucin, a potent isothiocyanate derived from Eruca sativa known for its significant anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Methods: Fresh chopped Eruca sativa leaves were macerated in water to get erucin phytochemical by enzymatic conversion with myrosinase , followed by an organic solvent extraction using dichloromethane. In the production of nano erucin, sodium tripolyphosphate -a cross-linker - was used in a process called ionic gelation. Three definite solutions were prepared with chitosan-to-erucin ratios of 0.5:1, 1:1, and 1.5:1. Then, centrifugation performed to purify the resulting nanoparticles which were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Zeta potential analysis to evaluate morphology, elemental composition, and surface charge, respectively
References
Akdaşçı, E., et al. (2025). Chitosan and its nanoparticles: A multifaceted approach to antibacterial applications. Nanomaterials, 15(2), 126. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15020126
Abd El Hady, W. E., Abdelmageed, M. E., & El-Emam, G. A. (2024). Diosmin-loaded lipid chitosan hybrid nanoparticles boost the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects against acetic acid-induced colitis in rodents. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 98, 105846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.105846
Bell, L., Chadwick, M., Puranik, M., Tudor, R., Methven, L., Kennedy, S., & Wagstaff, C. (2020). The Eruca sativa genome and transcriptome: A targeted analysis of sulfur metabolism and glucosinolate biosynthesis pre- and postharvest. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 525102. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.525102
Bhardwaj, N., Kumar, A., Kaur, P., Arora, S., Bedi, N., Bhatia, A., & others. (2025). Erucin-loaded chitosan coated solid lipid hybrid nanoparticles: An efficient drug delivery system for enhancing solubility and sustained release. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 308, 142350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142350
Cheng, X., Xie, Q., & Sun, Y. (2023). Advances in nanomaterial-based targeted drug delivery systems. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, 1177151. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1177151
Cheng, X., Zou, Q., Zhang, H., Zhu, J., Hasan, M., Dong, F., Liu, X., Li, J., Wu, Y., Lv, X., & Wang, K. (2023). Effects of chitosan nanoparticle encapsulation on the properties of litchi polyphenols. Food Science and Biotechnology, 32(13), 1861–1871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-023-013XX
Csóka, I., Ismail, R., Jójárt-Laczkovich, O., & Pallagi, E. (2021). Regulatory considerations, challenges and risk-based approach in nanomedicine development. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 28(36), 7461–7476. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867328666211103123456
Çiftçi, F., et al. (2025). Advances in drug targeting, drug delivery, and nanotechnology applications: Therapeutic significance in cancer treatment. Pharmaceutics, 17(1), 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010121
Esquivel, R., Juárez, J., Almada, M., Ibarra, J., & Valdez, M. A. (2015). Synthesis and characterization of new thiolated chitosan nanoparticles obtained by ionic gelation method. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2015, 502058. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/502058
Gomes, A. S., et al. (2024). Chitosan nanoparticles as a potential drug delivery system in the skin: A systematic review based on in vivo studies. ChemistrySelect, 9(202402058). https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202402058
Gonçalves, M. M., Maluf, D. F., Pontarolo, R., Saul, C. K., Almouazen, E., & Chevalier, Y. (2023). Negatively charged chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ionotropic gelation for encapsulation of positively charged proteins. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 642, 123164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123164
Gutiérrez-Ruíz, S. C., Cortes, H., González-Torres, M., Almarhoon, Z. M., Gürer, E. S., Sharifi-Rad, J., & Leyva-Gómez, G. (2024). Optimize the parameters for the synthesis by the ionic gelation technique, purification, and freeze-drying of chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles for biomedical purposes. Journal of Biological Engineering, 18(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-024-00312-3
Habtemariam, S. (2024). Anti-inflammatory therapeutic mechanisms of isothiocyanates: Insights from sulforaphane. Biomedicines, 12(6), 1169. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12061169
Hanschen, F. S., Lamy, E., Schreiner, M., & Rohn, S. (2014). Reactivity and stability of glucosinolates and their breakdown products in foods. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53(43), 11430–11450. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201402189
Herdiana, Y., et al. (2024). Drug loading in chitosan-based nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics, 16(8), 1043. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16081043
Hoch, C. C., et al. (2024). Isothiocyanates in medicine: A comprehensive review on phenylethyl-, allyl-, and benzyl-isothiocyanates. Pharmacological Research, 107107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107107
Jha, R., et al. (2024). On the structural and molecular properties of PEO and PEO-PPG functionalized chitosan nanoparticles for drug delivery. Bioengineering, 11(4), 372. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11040372
Jiang, T., Wang, Y., Yu, Z., & Du, L. (2024). Synthesis and characterization of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles loaded with herbicidal compounds. Scientific Reports, 14, 18754. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-18754-0
Kim, M., et al. (2024). Transformative impact of nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery: Overcoming biological barriers and expanding therapeutic horizons. Small Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202400280
Kyriakou, S., et al. (2024). Naturally derived phenethyl isothiocyanate modulates induction of oxidative stress in malignant melanoma. Antioxidants, 13(1), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13010082
Leonard, D. N., Chandler, G. W., & Seraphin, S. (2012). Scanning electron microscopy. In Characterization of materials (pp. 1–16). https://doi.org/10.1002/0471266965.COM081.PUB2
Mardani, A., Streimikiene, D., Zavadskas, E. K., Cavallaro, F., Nilashi, M., Jusoh, A., & Zare, H. (2017). Application of structural equation modeling (SEM) to solve environmental sustainability problems: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Sustainability, 9(10), 1814. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101814
Mercan, G., & Selçuk, Z. V. (2024). Progress in utilizing chitosan-based nanoparticles for pulmonary drug administration. ODÜ Tıp Dergisi. https://doi.org/10.56941/odutip.1442818
Moldoveanu, S. C., & David, V. (2021). Modern sample preparation for chromatography. Elsevier.
Narra, F., Galgani, G., Harris, C. B., Moreno, D. A., & Núñez-Gómez, V. (2025). Bioavailability, human metabolism, and dietary interventions of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates: Critical insights and future perspectives. Foods, 14(16), 2876. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14162876
Omidian, H., et al. (2024). Chitosan nanoparticles for intranasal drug delivery. Pharmaceutics, 16(6), 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16060746
Poulev, A., O’Neal, J. M., Logendra, S., et al. (2003). Elicitation, a new window into plant chemodiversity and phytochemical drug discovery. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 46(12), 2542–2547. https://doi.org/10.1021/jm030006g
Romeo, L., Iori, R., Rollin, P., Bramanti, P., & Mazzon, E. (2018). Isothiocyanates: An overview of their antimicrobial activity against human infections. Molecules, 23(3), 624. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23030624
Shi, S., et al. (2024). Research and application of chitosan nanoparticles in orthopedic infections. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 19, 468848. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S468848
Sikorski, D., Gzyra-Jagieła, K., & Draczyński, Z. (2021). The kinetics of chitosan degradation in organic acid solutions. Marine Drugs, 19(5), 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19050236
Singh, S., Singh, G., Attri, S., et al. (2023). Development and optimization of nanoparticles loaded with erucin. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 1080977. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1080977
Sreekumar, S., Goycoolea, F. M., Moerschbacher, B. M., & Rivera-Rodriguez, G. R. (2018). Parameters influencing the size of chitosan-TPP nano- and microparticles. Scientific Reports, 8, 4695. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23043-0
Tang, L., & Zhang, Y. (2005). Mitochondria are the primary target in isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 4(8), 1250–1259.
Wang, Q., et al. (2024). Dietary isothiocyanates and anticancer agents: Exploring synergism for improved cancer management. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1386083. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1386083
Yadav, S., et al. (2024). Chitosan-based nanoformulations: Preclinical investigations, theranostic advancements, and clinical trial prospects for targeting diverse pathologies. AAPS PharmSciTech, 25, 248. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-024-02948-x
Zhang, Y., et al. (2023). Iberverin exhibits antineoplastic activities against hepatocellular carcinoma. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1326346. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1326346
Zubair, M., et al. (2024). Application of nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery and nontoxicity. International Journal of Green Pharmacy and Nanomedicine, 2(2), 7436.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ali Jalil Mjali

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.





1.png)
4.png)




