Anticancer Efficacy of 5-Fluorouracil-Loaded Chitin Nanohydrogel in Enhanced Skin Cancer Therapy

Abstract

The pyrimidine analog 5-flurouracil (5-FU) is effective against solid tumors. However, the half-life of intravenously administered 5-FU is less than 20 min, and the compound is quickly eliminated and shows systemic toxicity. This study was aimed at developing a nanohydrogel of 5-FU to improve anticancer drug delivery for skin cancer treatment. We prepared 5-FU Chitin nanoparticles (5-FCHNPs) through the ionic gelation technique, and used a 3²-factorial design approach to optimize the 5-FCHNPs and nanohydrogel formulations. Subsequently, 5-FCHNP particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency were evaluated. The optimized nanohydrogel formulation was assessed for pH, spreadability, consistency, morphology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and in vitro cytotoxicity analyses were conducted. The developed nanohydrogel formulation (5-FNH9) showed 68.40% entrapment efficiency, 72.88% drug release, and 1.418% skin penetration. The IC₅₀ value of 5-FU was greater than that of 5-FNH9. The developed 5-FNH exhibited enhanced skin penetration and pH-responsive controlled drug release, and therefore has potential in skin cancer treatment.

Keywords

3²-factorial design / 5-fluorouracil / Chitin / IC₅₀ / nanohydrogel / skin cancer

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