Fabrication of Nanoparticles based on Hesperidin-Loaded Chitosan-Functionalized Fe3O4: Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties

Hesperidin (HD) as a flavanone glycoside has pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. However, poor solubility and bioavailability of hesperidin restrict its therapeutic effects. In this work, chitosan-functionalized Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles (Cs- f -Fe 3 O 4 MNPs) were prepared to carry hesperidin. Hesperidin was isolated and purified from orange peel and then it was efficiently loaded into the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (HD-Cs- f -Fe 3 O 4 MNPs). The antioxidant activity of synthesized MNPs was determined by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical method. HD-Cs- f -Fe 3 O 4 MNPs have exhibited high DPPH scavenging activity and their antioxidant effect increased as the concentrations increased. The cytotoxicity of prepared MNPs were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. HD-Cs- f -Fe 3 O 4 MNPs demonstrated a greater toxicity against MCF-7 cells compared to Cs- f -Fe 3 O 4 MNPs. The toxicity of hesperidin-loaded chitosan-functionalized Fe 3 O 4 MNPs against cancerous cells makes them as promising candidates for further studies in the cancer treatment.