Usnic acid‑loaded bioinspired heparin modified‑cellulose acetate phthalate nanoparticle(s) as an efficient carrier for site‑specific delivery in lung cancer cells

Introduction: The main goal of the current study was to assess the cytotoxic influence of usnic acid (UA) after enclosement in heparin modified‑cellulose acetate phthalate (HEC) nanoparticles(NPs) when targeted to lung cancer A549 cell line. Materials and Methods: HEC copolymer was manufactured by precipitation method and was substantiated by Fourier‑transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. HEC NPs with UA was formulated by employing HEC copolymer and later competed with UA‑loaded cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) NPs. NPs were exemplified by zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry, particle size, atomic force microscopy, in vitro release, entrapment efficiency, X‑ray diffraction , and polydispersity index. Results: Studies revealed that HEC NPs have a slower release (96.21% in 32 h) when contrasted with CAP NPs (97.36% in 8 h). In cytotoxicity analysis of A549, UA‑loaded HEC NPs illustrated an immense cytotoxic potential. In addition, HEC NPs were found to be more hemocompatable in comparison to CAP NPs and plain UA. Conclusion: Decisively, on account of investigational results UA‑loaded HEC NPs were percieved to be more cytotoxic against lung cancer cells than UA‑loaded CAP NPs and plain UA.