Improving the solubility of melanin nanoparticles from apricot kernels is a potent drug delivery system

作者：Gao Li, Yang Liu, Lixiao Guo, Haibin Wang, Yinghu Zhao, Jun Xie, Nan Shi · 发表于：Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1177/22808000221124418 · 被引用次数：11 · 研究领域：melanin and skin pigmentation、Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments、Sesame and Sesamin Research

BACKGROUND: Melanin can be used in biomedical nanomaterials, but its solubility in water and bioavailability are low. AIM: Melanin nanoparticles were prepared and then PEG-natural melanin nanoparticles (NMNP-PEG) were obtained with good performance and optimize their (water solubility, dispersion stability, chelating metal ions, photothermal stability, drug delivery, and biocompatibility), therefore improve the water solubility of melanin and broaden its application scope in biology, medicine, food, and other fields. METHODS: MFAK (melanin from apricot kernels) and NMNP-PEG were prepared and characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electron microscopy. The chelation rate of metal ions, photothermal effect, doxorubicin loading, and cytotoxicity (MCF-7 cells) were examined. RESULTS: UV-Vis, HPLC, FTIR, and NMR indicated that NMNPs contained melanin. NMNPs could be successfully modified using PEG. Under physiological pH conditions (pH 7.4), the metal ion chelation rate of NMNP-PEG increased with time and peaked at 12 h. The photothermal assay showed a temperature enhancement of 26.3°C with 1 mg/mL NMNP-PEG, compared with 1.9℃ with water. The NMNP-PEGs had a typical peak for doxorubicin in the FTIR spectrum, and the peak intensity was proportional to the drug loading. The release of doxorubicin in an acidic buffer was 4...