# Interaction of Mitoxantrone-Loaded Cholesterol Modified Pullulan Nanoparticles with Human Serum Albumin and Effect on Drug Release

Authors: Liming Yuan; Bu Guo; Wu Zhong; Yu Nie; Xiaoyan Yao; Xiaofeng Peng; Rong Wang; Hongyuan Yu; Shanyi Yang; Chunlian He; Xiaojun Tao; Qiufang Zhang
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2019)

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## Abstract

To clarify nanoparticle-protein interaction and their action characteristics, the interactions between MTO-CHP NPs and human serum albumin (HSA) were studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). Hydrophobically modified pullulan (CHP) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with mitoxantrone (MTO) were prepared (MTO-CHP NPs) with size 166.9 nm. The spherical shape was verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ITC results demonstrated an interaction between MTO-CHP NPs mainly by hydrophobic interaction force, electrostatic force, and hydrogen bonding. The mean binding constantKA was 0.832×104M−1 and mean HSA coverage 0.939±0.302. MTO-CHP NPs could quench the fluorescence intensity of HSA, which gradually decreased to be balanced in 9 h and indicated the completion of the complexation. The size and zeta potential changes of the combined particle were dynamically detected with DLS at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 h. When the reaction was completed at 9 h, the particle size and potential remained stable, accompanied by a size change from 89.91 to about 145 nm and potential change from -15 to -3 mV, respectively. The results of CD measurement showed that the change in ellipticity of HSA at 208 nm was similar to the fluorescence spectra and DLS measurements with MTO-CHP NPs combined with HSA. At the beginning of the reaction, the proportion of α-helix was 52.3% to 43.7%, which decreased by 39.1% at compound stabilization. The release of MTO from MTO-CHP NPs at pH=5.6 was significantly accelerated, whereas that of MTO from HSA-MTO-CHP NPs was significantly reduced, and the drug release was significantly slowed down even under acidic conditions, which indicates the beneficial effect of HSA on the persistence and stability of the HSA-MTO-CHP NP compound.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Nanopreparations have good sustained release and targeting and are a hot topic of research in drug delivery systems [1, 2]. The nanometer size can be used to passively target tumor tissue via an enhanced permeability and retention effect, achieve local fixed-point release, and exert an antitumor effect [3]. Nanopreparations enter the blood circulation by intravenous injection and are susceptible to adsorption of plasma proteins before passively targeting tumor tissues [4]. The adsorption of nanoparticles (NPs) by plasma proteins changes the characteristics of the NPs, such as size, surface charge, and surface hydrophobicity, which alters their biological behaviors in vivo and thus their efficacy [5, 6]. The type and quantity of plasma protein adsorption are closely related to the nature of the NPs themselves. The surface of NPs mainly adsorbs high-abundance proteins and proteins with strong adsorption to NPs [7, 8].Human serum albumin (HSA) contains more than 60% high-abundance proteins in serum. HSA has three domains I, II, and III—each with two subdomains, A and B [9]. It can bind to various endogenous and exogenous compounds via amino acid residues and mainly binds to hydrophobic cavities at IIA (site I) and IIIA (site II) [10]. HSA binding is an important factor in helping to transport drugs and limiting their free active concentrations [11, 12]. Many studies have investigated the reaction of small molecule drugs and macromolecular drugs with HSA. Small-molecule drugs such as palmatine react with HSA, which will affect the tissue distribution, metabolism, and effect of palmatine [9]. Macromolecular substances such as fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) of novel carbon-based nanomaterials react with HSA, affecting the actual medical application of CDs and weakening the biological activity of HSA [13].Recently, some HSA NPs as a new drug delivery systems show potential clinical value, such as targeting tumor or inflamed tissues with high stability, high biodegradability, low toxicity, and immunogenicity [14]. Zhang et al. used amphiphilic poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide) copolymer NPs (pHPMA NPs) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) or pHPMA NPs without DOX in the HSA solution under a physiological environment [15]. Unlike unloaded NPs, drug-loaded NPs did not interact with HSA, so the delivery of DOX by using pHPMA NPs in the human body is not affected by the presence of HSA [15]. However, the interaction of HSA with drug-loaded NPs may affect the targeting and sustained drug release properties. For example, morin (3,5,7,2′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs (MPNPs) combined with HSA could promote morin’s continuous release [16]. Therefore, the study of the interaction between drug-loaded NPs and HSA is of great significance to the research and optimization of drug-loaded nanopreparations.In this study, we used cholesteric modified pullulan (CHP) NPs loaded with mitoxantrone (MTO) as drug-loaded NPs to explore the interaction with HSA. MTO is an anthracycline antibiotic that has been used as an antitumor drug in clinical practice. It has no selectivity for tumor cells and has a large toxic side effect in clinical application. It can be loaded into the hydrophobic center of polymer NPs, which can passively target tumor cells via the enhanced permeability and retention effect, reduce the uptake of drugs by normal tissues, and enhance the efficacy and safety [17]. CHP polymer NPs can self-assemble to form NPs in water consisting of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell [18]. The hydrophobic core can encapsulate the hydrophobic substance, and the hydrophilic outer shell can enhance the solubility and stability in the aqueous solution. CHP polymer NPs are nontoxic and have good biocompatibility; they can be degraded by amylase in the body. So, they are often used as a nanomaterial to load drugs in biological applications; examples are polytoluene and 5-fluorouracil [19–21]. In recent years, many studies have investigated the use of CHP and its derivatives as nanotargeted antitumor drug carriers, but few studies have examined the interaction between drug-loaded CHP and protein and its biological effects.MTO and HSA are combined by hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bond, and electrostatic interaction, mainly taking place in the hydrophobic cavity of HSA. This is a rapid and reversible process that quickly reaches dynamic equilibrium [22]. CHP forms complex NPs, embedding various proteins into the NP core, rather than adsorbing on the NP surface [7]. Adding HSA into MTO-containing CHP NPs could significantly slow down the release rate of MTO [7].In the present study, we investigated the specific interactions between MTO, CHP NPs, drug-loaded CHP NPs, and HSA by using ITC, fluorescence spectroscopy, DLS, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. We further revealed the interaction characteristics between drug-loaded CHP NPs and HSA, thereby elucidating the effect of the HSA complex on drug release of drug-loaded CHP NPs. These results will help in the exploration and development of clinically meaningful HSA NPs.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Materials

HSA (molecular weight 66.5 kDa) was from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). HSA solution was prepared in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. Pullulan (average molecular weight 200 kDa, degree ofdeacetylation>90%) was from Solarbio (Beijing) and mitoxantrone hydrochloride from Sigma-Aldrich (Shanghai). Other chemical reagents were of analytical grade and were from Changsha Huicheng (Changsha, China).


### 2.2. Methods

#### 2.2.1. Synthesis of Cholesteric Hydrophobically Modified Pullulan (CHP) and Its Characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy

The synthesis of CHP conjugate was previously reported [23]. The FT-IR spectra of pullulan, cholesterol succinate (CHS), and CHP were obtained as KBr pellets for FT-IR spectroscopy (Nicolet Nexus 470-ESP, USA) at room temperature.


#### 2.2.2. Preparation and Characterization of Drug-Loaded NPs

The presynthesized CHP (cholesterol substitution 4.06) was selected in the following preparation. MTO-loaded CHP NPs were prepared by a dialysis method [24]. DLS (Zetasizer 3000HS, Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK) was used to determine the size distribution and zeta potential of the drug-loaded NPs at 11.4 V/cm, 13.0 mA. A drop of MTO-CHP NP (1.0 mg/mL) solution was placed into a copper mesh negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid (2%), and the grid was naturally air-dried and analyzed by TEM (Tecnai G2 20 S-Twin, FEI Hong Kong, Hong Kong) observing morphological characteristics at an acceleration voltage of 80 kV.


#### 2.2.3. Characterization of the Interaction between HSA and Drug-Loaded NPs

(1) Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). All solutions were degassed before titration [25]. The heat change was measured by using ITC (VIP-ITC, MicroCal, Northampton, MA, USA). The ligand was placed in a syringe, and the receptor was added to the sample cell. The buffer solution was loaded into the reference cell, and the reaction container and apparatus (the system) were maintained in a constant temperature 25°C and constant pressure to atmosphere. At the beginning of the titration, the syringe was placed in the sample cell and dripped at regular intervals to ensure balanced sample action. The thermodynamic parameters were then obtained and displayed in the curve. The raw data are expressed as thermal changes over time. Three sets of experiments were performed: the first group with 0.45 mM MTO dropped into 0.002 mM HSA, the second group with 0.15 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP, and the third group with 0.9 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP-MTO. Before the curve was fitted, the first data point was always deleted from the data set, and the data were analyzed by using the Origin 8.5 software. A set of site models was used to obtain the composite stability constant (KA) and molar reaction metamorphosis (ΔH°). Then, the standard free energy (ΔG°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated as ΔG°=−RTlnKA=ΔH°−TΔS°. The enthalpy change and entropy change reflect the interaction mode and mechanism [26].(2) Fluorescence Spectroscopy. HSA contains a tryptophan that is excited in the ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, forming a fluorescent spectrum. When other molecules interact with HSA, tryptophan fluorescence may change, depending on the effect of this interaction on protein conformation [27, 28]. HSA and MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were mixed and reacted at a molecular ratio of 3.6 : 1 (HSA: 1.5×10−5mol/L). The obtained mixture was placed in a 2 mL Eppendorf tube (EP tube) and shaken at 20 rpm, 25°C, for 24 h for full reaction. Fluorescence spectrophotometry (Shimadzu RF-4500, Japan) was used to record the fluorescence intensity of free HSA and HSA that began to bind or was already bound to MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs. The maximum changes in fluorescence intensity with recombination time were recorded. The tryptophan chromophore in the HSA molecule was excited at 280 nm [28], and the emission spectrum was recorded at 290-450 nm. The excitation and emission slit widths were 5 and 12 nm, respectively.(3) Circular Dichroism (CD). In biological fluids, the secondary structure of human serum albumin may be toxic because of changes in drug-induced conformation and function. Because CD spectroscopy is sensitive to changes in protein structure [29], it was used to study the structural changes of HSA after the compound formation.The CHP-HSA complex was prepared by storing the complex in a 2 mL EP tube, keeping it at a constant temperature of 25°C and stirring on a shaking table at 12 rpm for 18 h. The CD spectra (at wavelength 200-250 nm) of free HSA, HSA after the addition of MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were recorded by using a CD spectrometer (Jasco J-810, Japan) at 37°C with a 0.1 cm cuvette cell. Aa, Ab, Ac, and Ad represent the CD of free HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the beginning of complex formation, and Ba, Bb, and Bc represent the CD of HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the end of complex formation. The concentration of HSA in all samples was 1.0 mg/mL (1.5×10−5mol/L). The content of the α-helix in HSA was calculated as follows [30]:
(1)MRE=CDmdegcpnl×10,(2)α­Helix%=−MRE208−400033000−4000×100,where MRE208 is the average residual ellipticity at 208 nm (deg cm-2 dmol-1), n is the number of HSA amino acid residues (585), Cp is the molar concentration of HSA (1.5×10−5mol/L), and L is the length of the cuvette cell (0.1 cm).


#### 2.2.4. Determining Drug Release

The standard curve of MTO was obtained by using a microplate spectrophotometer (UV-384 Plus, Molecular Devices, USA). The NPs were dialyzed in phosphate-buffered saline (pH=7.4) and acidic solution (pH=5.6) simulating the tumor microenvironment to study MTO release in vitro. In brief, the solution of CHP-NPs loaded with MTO and HSA-MTO-CHP-NPs (2 mg/mL) was placed in a VISKING dialysis tube (molecular weight cut-off 12-14 kDa, USA) and dialyzed in an air-bath shaker for 50 rpm at 37°C. At a predetermined time, 5 mL released medium was removed with a pipette and 5 mL fresh medium was added. MTO release was determined at 608 nm by UV spectrophotometry followed by calculating the cumulative release percentage (Q%) [31].


## 2.1. Materials

HSA (molecular weight 66.5 kDa) was from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). HSA solution was prepared in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. Pullulan (average molecular weight 200 kDa, degree ofdeacetylation>90%) was from Solarbio (Beijing) and mitoxantrone hydrochloride from Sigma-Aldrich (Shanghai). Other chemical reagents were of analytical grade and were from Changsha Huicheng (Changsha, China).


## 2.2. Methods

### 2.2.1. Synthesis of Cholesteric Hydrophobically Modified Pullulan (CHP) and Its Characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy

The synthesis of CHP conjugate was previously reported [23]. The FT-IR spectra of pullulan, cholesterol succinate (CHS), and CHP were obtained as KBr pellets for FT-IR spectroscopy (Nicolet Nexus 470-ESP, USA) at room temperature.


### 2.2.2. Preparation and Characterization of Drug-Loaded NPs

The presynthesized CHP (cholesterol substitution 4.06) was selected in the following preparation. MTO-loaded CHP NPs were prepared by a dialysis method [24]. DLS (Zetasizer 3000HS, Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK) was used to determine the size distribution and zeta potential of the drug-loaded NPs at 11.4 V/cm, 13.0 mA. A drop of MTO-CHP NP (1.0 mg/mL) solution was placed into a copper mesh negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid (2%), and the grid was naturally air-dried and analyzed by TEM (Tecnai G2 20 S-Twin, FEI Hong Kong, Hong Kong) observing morphological characteristics at an acceleration voltage of 80 kV.


### 2.2.3. Characterization of the Interaction between HSA and Drug-Loaded NPs

(1) Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). All solutions were degassed before titration [25]. The heat change was measured by using ITC (VIP-ITC, MicroCal, Northampton, MA, USA). The ligand was placed in a syringe, and the receptor was added to the sample cell. The buffer solution was loaded into the reference cell, and the reaction container and apparatus (the system) were maintained in a constant temperature 25°C and constant pressure to atmosphere. At the beginning of the titration, the syringe was placed in the sample cell and dripped at regular intervals to ensure balanced sample action. The thermodynamic parameters were then obtained and displayed in the curve. The raw data are expressed as thermal changes over time. Three sets of experiments were performed: the first group with 0.45 mM MTO dropped into 0.002 mM HSA, the second group with 0.15 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP, and the third group with 0.9 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP-MTO. Before the curve was fitted, the first data point was always deleted from the data set, and the data were analyzed by using the Origin 8.5 software. A set of site models was used to obtain the composite stability constant (KA) and molar reaction metamorphosis (ΔH°). Then, the standard free energy (ΔG°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated as ΔG°=−RTlnKA=ΔH°−TΔS°. The enthalpy change and entropy change reflect the interaction mode and mechanism [26].(2) Fluorescence Spectroscopy. HSA contains a tryptophan that is excited in the ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, forming a fluorescent spectrum. When other molecules interact with HSA, tryptophan fluorescence may change, depending on the effect of this interaction on protein conformation [27, 28]. HSA and MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were mixed and reacted at a molecular ratio of 3.6 : 1 (HSA: 1.5×10−5mol/L). The obtained mixture was placed in a 2 mL Eppendorf tube (EP tube) and shaken at 20 rpm, 25°C, for 24 h for full reaction. Fluorescence spectrophotometry (Shimadzu RF-4500, Japan) was used to record the fluorescence intensity of free HSA and HSA that began to bind or was already bound to MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs. The maximum changes in fluorescence intensity with recombination time were recorded. The tryptophan chromophore in the HSA molecule was excited at 280 nm [28], and the emission spectrum was recorded at 290-450 nm. The excitation and emission slit widths were 5 and 12 nm, respectively.(3) Circular Dichroism (CD). In biological fluids, the secondary structure of human serum albumin may be toxic because of changes in drug-induced conformation and function. Because CD spectroscopy is sensitive to changes in protein structure [29], it was used to study the structural changes of HSA after the compound formation.The CHP-HSA complex was prepared by storing the complex in a 2 mL EP tube, keeping it at a constant temperature of 25°C and stirring on a shaking table at 12 rpm for 18 h. The CD spectra (at wavelength 200-250 nm) of free HSA, HSA after the addition of MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were recorded by using a CD spectrometer (Jasco J-810, Japan) at 37°C with a 0.1 cm cuvette cell. Aa, Ab, Ac, and Ad represent the CD of free HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the beginning of complex formation, and Ba, Bb, and Bc represent the CD of HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the end of complex formation. The concentration of HSA in all samples was 1.0 mg/mL (1.5×10−5mol/L). The content of the α-helix in HSA was calculated as follows [30]:
(1)MRE=CDmdegcpnl×10,(2)α­Helix%=−MRE208−400033000−4000×100,where MRE208 is the average residual ellipticity at 208 nm (deg cm-2 dmol-1), n is the number of HSA amino acid residues (585), Cp is the molar concentration of HSA (1.5×10−5mol/L), and L is the length of the cuvette cell (0.1 cm).


### 2.2.4. Determining Drug Release

The standard curve of MTO was obtained by using a microplate spectrophotometer (UV-384 Plus, Molecular Devices, USA). The NPs were dialyzed in phosphate-buffered saline (pH=7.4) and acidic solution (pH=5.6) simulating the tumor microenvironment to study MTO release in vitro. In brief, the solution of CHP-NPs loaded with MTO and HSA-MTO-CHP-NPs (2 mg/mL) was placed in a VISKING dialysis tube (molecular weight cut-off 12-14 kDa, USA) and dialyzed in an air-bath shaker for 50 rpm at 37°C. At a predetermined time, 5 mL released medium was removed with a pipette and 5 mL fresh medium was added. MTO release was determined at 608 nm by UV spectrophotometry followed by calculating the cumulative release percentage (Q%) [31].


## 2.2.1. Synthesis of Cholesteric Hydrophobically Modified Pullulan (CHP) and Its Characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy

The synthesis of CHP conjugate was previously reported [23]. The FT-IR spectra of pullulan, cholesterol succinate (CHS), and CHP were obtained as KBr pellets for FT-IR spectroscopy (Nicolet Nexus 470-ESP, USA) at room temperature.


## 2.2.2. Preparation and Characterization of Drug-Loaded NPs

The presynthesized CHP (cholesterol substitution 4.06) was selected in the following preparation. MTO-loaded CHP NPs were prepared by a dialysis method [24]. DLS (Zetasizer 3000HS, Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK) was used to determine the size distribution and zeta potential of the drug-loaded NPs at 11.4 V/cm, 13.0 mA. A drop of MTO-CHP NP (1.0 mg/mL) solution was placed into a copper mesh negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid (2%), and the grid was naturally air-dried and analyzed by TEM (Tecnai G2 20 S-Twin, FEI Hong Kong, Hong Kong) observing morphological characteristics at an acceleration voltage of 80 kV.


## 2.2.3. Characterization of the Interaction between HSA and Drug-Loaded NPs

(1) Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). All solutions were degassed before titration [25]. The heat change was measured by using ITC (VIP-ITC, MicroCal, Northampton, MA, USA). The ligand was placed in a syringe, and the receptor was added to the sample cell. The buffer solution was loaded into the reference cell, and the reaction container and apparatus (the system) were maintained in a constant temperature 25°C and constant pressure to atmosphere. At the beginning of the titration, the syringe was placed in the sample cell and dripped at regular intervals to ensure balanced sample action. The thermodynamic parameters were then obtained and displayed in the curve. The raw data are expressed as thermal changes over time. Three sets of experiments were performed: the first group with 0.45 mM MTO dropped into 0.002 mM HSA, the second group with 0.15 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP, and the third group with 0.9 mM HSA dropped into 0.01 mM CHP-MTO. Before the curve was fitted, the first data point was always deleted from the data set, and the data were analyzed by using the Origin 8.5 software. A set of site models was used to obtain the composite stability constant (KA) and molar reaction metamorphosis (ΔH°). Then, the standard free energy (ΔG°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated as ΔG°=−RTlnKA=ΔH°−TΔS°. The enthalpy change and entropy change reflect the interaction mode and mechanism [26].(2) Fluorescence Spectroscopy. HSA contains a tryptophan that is excited in the ultraviolet region to emit fluorescence, forming a fluorescent spectrum. When other molecules interact with HSA, tryptophan fluorescence may change, depending on the effect of this interaction on protein conformation [27, 28]. HSA and MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were mixed and reacted at a molecular ratio of 3.6 : 1 (HSA: 1.5×10−5mol/L). The obtained mixture was placed in a 2 mL Eppendorf tube (EP tube) and shaken at 20 rpm, 25°C, for 24 h for full reaction. Fluorescence spectrophotometry (Shimadzu RF-4500, Japan) was used to record the fluorescence intensity of free HSA and HSA that began to bind or was already bound to MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs. The maximum changes in fluorescence intensity with recombination time were recorded. The tryptophan chromophore in the HSA molecule was excited at 280 nm [28], and the emission spectrum was recorded at 290-450 nm. The excitation and emission slit widths were 5 and 12 nm, respectively.(3) Circular Dichroism (CD). In biological fluids, the secondary structure of human serum albumin may be toxic because of changes in drug-induced conformation and function. Because CD spectroscopy is sensitive to changes in protein structure [29], it was used to study the structural changes of HSA after the compound formation.The CHP-HSA complex was prepared by storing the complex in a 2 mL EP tube, keeping it at a constant temperature of 25°C and stirring on a shaking table at 12 rpm for 18 h. The CD spectra (at wavelength 200-250 nm) of free HSA, HSA after the addition of MTO, CHP NPs, and MTO-CHP NPs were recorded by using a CD spectrometer (Jasco J-810, Japan) at 37°C with a 0.1 cm cuvette cell. Aa, Ab, Ac, and Ad represent the CD of free HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the beginning of complex formation, and Ba, Bb, and Bc represent the CD of HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, at the end of complex formation. The concentration of HSA in all samples was 1.0 mg/mL (1.5×10−5mol/L). The content of the α-helix in HSA was calculated as follows [30]:
(1)MRE=CDmdegcpnl×10,(2)α­Helix%=−MRE208−400033000−4000×100,where MRE208 is the average residual ellipticity at 208 nm (deg cm-2 dmol-1), n is the number of HSA amino acid residues (585), Cp is the molar concentration of HSA (1.5×10−5mol/L), and L is the length of the cuvette cell (0.1 cm).


## 2.2.4. Determining Drug Release

The standard curve of MTO was obtained by using a microplate spectrophotometer (UV-384 Plus, Molecular Devices, USA). The NPs were dialyzed in phosphate-buffered saline (pH=7.4) and acidic solution (pH=5.6) simulating the tumor microenvironment to study MTO release in vitro. In brief, the solution of CHP-NPs loaded with MTO and HSA-MTO-CHP-NPs (2 mg/mL) was placed in a VISKING dialysis tube (molecular weight cut-off 12-14 kDa, USA) and dialyzed in an air-bath shaker for 50 rpm at 37°C. At a predetermined time, 5 mL released medium was removed with a pipette and 5 mL fresh medium was added. MTO release was determined at 608 nm by UV spectrophotometry followed by calculating the cumulative release percentage (Q%) [31].


## 3. Results

### 3.1. FT-IR Analysis

As shown in Figure1, CHP showed a distinct ester carbonyl absorption peak near 1735 cm-1, while the carboxyl peak near 1708 cm-1 disappeared in the infrared spectrum of CHS. The absorption peaks of methyl and methylene groups near 2930 cm-1 were significantly enhanced, indicating that CHS was grafted on to pullulan.Figure 1
IR spectra of (a) CHP and (b) pullulan (c) CHS.


### 3.2. Characterization of Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

The average size distribution and polydispersity index (PDI) of MTO-CHP NPs was 166.9 nm and 0.213, respectively (Figure2(b)), so the NPs were stable and the particle size was uniform. As compared with CHP NPs (-1.21 mV) [7], the mean zeta potential of MTO-CHP NPs was −0.698±6.09 (mV) and higher (Figure 2(a)), so MTO decreased the electronegativity of CHP NPs, which corresponded to the positive electrochemistry of MTO due to the presence of imino groups [32]. The TEM image shows the spherical shape of MTO-CHP NPs (Figure 2(c)).Figure 2
Zeta potential (a), size distribution (b), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image (c) of MTO-CHP NPs.
(a)
(b)
(c)


### 3.3. ITC-Determined Characterizations of Free Drugs, CHP NPs, and Drug-Loaded CHP NPs Interacting with HSA

Figure3(a) shows MTO titration into HSA. The lines present positive and negative peaks during the titration process. At each titration, the positive peaks were almost the same, about 0.1125 μcal/sec, whereas the absolute value of negative peaks decreased with increasing drops from the second drop. The corresponding curve showed an increasing trend, and the dots were scattered and undulating.Figure 3
Isothermal calorimetry data for HSA titration into (a) MTO, (b) CHP, and (c) MTO-CHP NPs at 25°C.
(a)
(b)
(c)Corresponding thermodynamic parameters could be obtained from the curve. According to△G°=△H°−T△S°, △G°<0 indicates that the reaction proceeded spontaneously for MTO binding HSA via hydrophobic force, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen, and △H°<0 and △S°>0 indicate that the adsorption of MTO and HSA was mainly due to electrostatic interaction [33, 34]. MTO is electropositive due to its imino group, whereas HSA is electronegative. The mean coverage N of MTO on HSA was 12.4±1.02, and the mean binding constant KA was 77.9±5.37×105M−1 (Table 1), so MTO had high affinity with HSA. With the MTO dropped, the reactions released or absorbed heat, but the whole reaction was an endothermic process (Figure 3(a)). This finding may be due to the molar concentration of HSA being much less than that of MTO, which is diluted when the MTO is dropped, and the dilution process releases heat for hydration. The amount of heat release during each titration did not change, so the adsorption combination was independent of the dilution exotherm, and the reaction was mainly endothermic.Table 1
Degree of coverage, affinity (binding constant,KA), and enthalpy and entropy changes for binding with HSA titrated into the following sample solutions.
Sample
Coverage
KA (104 M-1)
ΔH° (kJ/mol)
ΔS° (kJ/mol·K)
MTOCHPMTO-CHP
12.4±1.021.17±0.0440.939±0.302
77.9±5.3727.7±3.260.832±0.278
7.112±0.7934.387±2.35346.505±16.1
0.0890.2511.634
Data aremean±SD.Figure3(b) shows the HSA titration into CHP NPs. During the titration process, the alternate lines show the positive and negative peaks, and the total area of the positive peaks was definitely larger than the total area of the negative peaks. The value of the negative peaks was basically unchanged at each titration, maintained at about -0.0125 μcal/sec; the value of the positive peak decreased with increasing drops. The curve shows a downward trend, and the dots were scattered but steady and close to the curve. △H°>0 and ΔS°>0 indicate that the interaction between HSA and CHP NPs was mainly caused by hydrophobic interactions [33, 35]. CHP contains an inner hydrophobic core and an outer shell of hydrophilic groups, whereas HSA has hydrophobic amino acid residues. Therefore, CHP and HSA are close and bind with each other because of the hydrophobic interaction. According to △G°=△H°−T△S°, △G°<0 indicates that the adsorption reaction of HSA and CHP NPs proceeded spontaneously by the hydrophobic interaction. The mean coverage of HSA on CHP NPs was 1.17±0.044, and the mean KA was 27.7±3.26×104M−1 (Table 1), so the affinity between the two was high. The curve had an endothermic and exothermic part, but the latter was definitely larger than the former, finally showing an exothermic appearance. The endothermic part is likely due to the weak electronegativity of CHP NPs, which exerts the repulsive force of the same charge with HSA helping the system absorb minute amounts of heat during the HSA titration each time.Figure3(c) shows the HSA titrating into MTO-CHP NPs. The graph shows two small negative peaks at the first two drops in the experiment, which did not appear after that. A positive peak appeared after the first drop, and its value decreased with increasing drops. The corresponding curve had a downward trend, and the dots were neat, basically falling on the curve. On the basis of △H°>0, △S°>0, to △G°<0, the reaction proceeded spontaneously, and the main driving force in the reaction was hydrophobic interaction between the two. The mean coverage of HSA on drug-loaded NPs was 0.939±0.302, and the mean KA was 8.32±2.78×103M−1 (Table 1), so the affinity between the two was low. The curve does not show an endothermic phenomenon except for the first two drops, showing an exothermic phenomenon, because HSA takes the surface amino acid residues as active sites, adsorbs on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs by the hydrophobic reaction, and then gradually complexes into its hydrogel matrix. A part of the heat release should be considered to result from the emptying effect [35]. Hence, the entropy of the system was increased, and the free energy in the corresponding unit contact area was reduced. The endothermic part in the curve is likely due to the combination between the HSA molecule and the free MTO released from the MTO-CHP. Because the free MTO is only a small portion and the HSA increase goes faster than the drug release while the HSA is continuously titrated, gradually, the exothermic combinations of HSA and CHP NPs are predominant.Both the coverage and binding constants were greater in Figure3(a) than in Figure 3(b), so the affinity of HSA for MTO was higher than that of HSA for CHP NPs likely because of the electropositivity of MTO, electronegativity of HSA, and weak electronegativity of CHP NPs. HSA is easier to combine with oppositely charged species, so the affinity with MTO was higher.Figures3(a) and 3(c) show that the two binding effects were endothermic and exothermic, respectively. The binding constant and coverage were much higher in Figure 3(a) than in Figure 3(c), so the affinity of HSA was much higher for MTO than for MTO-CHP NPs. This finding may be due to MTO being encapsulated in CHP NPs, and the affinity of CHP NPs being much lower for HSA than MTO, resulting in decreased affinity for MTO-CHP NPs.In contrast, Figures3(b) and 3(c) both show exothermic phenomena. However, the binding constants and coverage were definitely less in Figure 3(c) than in Figure 3(b), reflecting the lower affinity of HSA for MTO-CHP NPs than CHP. This finding may be due to the competition between MTO and HSA in combination with CHP. MTO occupies the binding site of HSA on CHP NPs, and the binding of the two is restricted by each other, for decreased affinity of HSA for MTO-CHP NPs.CHP NPs, as carrier-loaded NPs with MTO, could effectively solve the problem of drug clearance and the therapeutic effect caused by HSA binding, therefore exerting a better therapeutic effect. MTO-CHP NPs combined with HSA will result in slow release of MTO and prolonged duration of activity perhaps because of adsorption between MTO and HSA. HSA combined with CHP NPs and MTO in the same process could reduce the clearance rate of MTO.


### 3.4. Fluorescence Spectroscopy Determination of Interactions of Drug, CHP, and Drug-Loaded CHP NPs with HSA

The peak position and peak shape of the fluorescence emission peaks for HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs were basically almost similar (Figures4(a) and 4(b)). The maximum value of fluorescence emission intensities was at 342 nm owing to the effect of the tryptophan residue in the HSA molecule [27], so CHP NPs and HSA formed a complex. When the NPs were completely combined with HSA and at the beginning of the process, the fluorescence intensity for HSA was greatly decreased, and MTO-CHP NPs more strongly quenched HSA fluorescence intensity than did CHP NPs.Figure 4
Fluorescence spectra for HSA in phosphate buffer with pH 7.40 at 25°C. (a) a → d represents the fluorescence spectra of the beginning of reaction for HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively. (b) a → c represents the fluorescence spectra for HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, after the reaction was completed at 15 h. (c) Change in maximum fluorescence intensity as a function of time combined with MTO (a), CHP NPs (b), and MTO-CHP NPs (c).
(a)
(b)
(c)The maximum fluorescence intensity of HSA varied with complexation time (Figure4(c)). When MTO was combined with HSA, the fluorescence intensity decreased within 3 h, then remained stable, so the complexation of MTO and HSA completed quickly. When HSA was combined with CHP or MTO-CHP, the fluorescence intensity decreased rapidly within 0-6 h and slowly within 6-18 h. The initially rapid decrease in fluorescence intensity was due to the fast adsorption of HSA to NPs, and the slow decrease was due to the gradual complexation between them. Therefore, we considered the compound obtained at 15 h as a completely formed complex.


### 3.5. Characterization of the Compound of HSA with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

The mean size distribution, PDI, and zeta potential changes for MTO-CHP NPs with HSA at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 h are in Figures5(a) and 5(b) and Table 2. From 0 to 12 h, the mean particle size increased from 89.91 to 144.4 nm, which indicates the interaction between HSA and MTO-CHP NPs and the integration of HSA. From 12 to 18 h, the increase in mean particle size slowed, so HSA was basically complexed with MTO-CHP NPs. PDI changed from 0.508 and 0.514 at the beginning of the reaction to 0.210 after 15 h of reaction, because multiple HSA was rapidly adsorbed on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs and there were many substances in the composite system. When HSA adsorbed on the surface gradually merged into the core of the NPs, the composite reaction was completed, and the dispersion was gradually stabilized with the decreased PDI value.Figure 5
Zeta potential (a), size distribution (b), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images (c) of HSA-MTO-CHP NPs, with different times of complexation.
(a)
(b)
(c)Table 2
Mean size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential changes of MTO-CHP NPs and HSA at different combination times.
Time (h)
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
Size (nm)
89.91
109.4
114.3
120.4
144.4
144.7
145.2
PDI
0.508
0.514
0.304
0.285
0.199
0.210
0.231
Zeta (mV)
-15
-7.22
-4.7
-3.74
-3.46
-3.08
-3.073The zeta potential gradually changed from -15 to -0.307 mV, because the charge of HSA was -15 mV [36], whereas MTO-CHP NPs were almost uncharged, which further indicated a composite reaction between HSA and MTO-CHP NPs. The charge was redistributed by electrostatic interaction, and the absolute value of the overall potential decreased.TEM revealed that MTO-CHP NPs remained spherical after 15 h of reaction with HSA (Figure5(c)). HSA did not change the morphology of MTO-CHP NPs. HSA may enter into the core of MTO-CHP NPs or be evenly distributed on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs.


### 3.6. Changes in Secondary Structure with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs Combined with HSA

The CD spectra for HSA shows a negative peak at 208 nm, considered as a characteristic peak of theα-helical structure [37]. The proportion of α-helix contents for free HSA was 52.3%, and that at the beginning of the adsorption of MTO, CHP, and MTO-CHP decreased to 50.0%, 46.9%, and 43.7%, respectively (Table 3). The proportion after maximum adsorption of MTO, CHP, and MTO-CHP was 49.4%, 41.8%, and 39.1%, respectively (Figures 6(a) and 6(b)). The ellipticity at 208 nm was almost unchanged after 3 h when HSA interacted with MTO but was stabilized until 9 h when HSA interacted with CHP and MTO-CHP (Figure 6(c)). Thus, the HSA adsorption of MTO was rapid; moreover, MTO changed the secondary structure of HSA to a small extent. The combination of HSA with CHP and MTO-CHP was slow, and HSA complexed into its hydrogel matrix gradually. During this process, HSA was pulled by the hydrophobic interaction of the CHP hydrophobic core and the hydrophilic polysaccharide chain of the CHP surface, causing the HSA to deform and altering its secondary structure. Because of the double complex reaction between MTO-CHP and HSA (i.e., the interaction between CHP and HSA, MTO, and HSA), the secondary structure of HSA changed to a greater extent.Table 3
Theα-helix contents of HSA, including free HSA (Aa), HSA in the presence of MTO (Ab), CHP NPs (Ac), MTO-CHP NPs (Ad), and HSA completely combined with MTO (Ba), CHP NPs (Bb), and MTO-CHP NPs (Bc).
Project
Aa
Ab
Ac
Ad
Ba
Bb
Bc
α-Helix (%)
52.3
50.0
46.9
43.7
49.4
41.8
39.1Figure 6
Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism of HSA determined at pH 7.4 Tris-HCl buffer and constant temperature 25°C. (a) a → d represents CD changes of HSA (Aa), HSA and MTO (Ab), HSA and CHP NPs (Ac), and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs (Ad) at the beginning of complexation. (b) a → c represents the circular dichroism of HSA and MTO (Ba), HSA and CHP NPs (Bb), and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs (Bc) at 15 h of complexation. (c) The ellipticity of HSA at 208 nm corresponding to the reaction time with various substances.
(a)
(b)
(c)


### 3.7. Sustained Drug Release after HSA Complexed with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

Figure7 shows the MTO release profile of MTO-CHP NPs in media with pH 5.6 or 7.4 and a composite with HSA in media with pH 5.6 or 7.4. MTO release had a biphasic character; that is, the drug was released rapidly in the first 12 h, at 56.73%, 39.82%, 32.45%, and 28.02%, respectively, and the drug release rate was slowed down within 12 to 48 h, with cumulative release percentages of 68.75%, 50.54%, 35.22%, and 31.68%, respectively. Because NPs capture hydrophobic drugs in two forms of loading, surface adsorption, and core loading, the surface-adsorbed drug was rapidly released, whereas the core-loaded drug was slowly and continuously released [38]. The drug release of the NPs complexed with HSA was much slower. This finding might have two explanations. First, HSA is rapidly bound to the surface of CHP NPs and then slowly enters the NP core and binds to the CHP hydrophobic domain, forming steric hindrance and weakening the hydrophobic interaction between MTO and CHP. Second, during the MTO release process, it may combine with the HSA adsorbed by the NPs. The drug release of MTO-CHP NPs was faster at pH 5.6 than at pH 7.4, mainly because the degree of protonation of MTO and water solubility became larger under acidic conditions [39]. However, the MTO-CHP NPs complexed with HSA had a low drug release rate under both pH 7.4 (physiological condition) and pH 5.6 (acidic condition) because the steric hindrance of HSA formation is large, and this property is not affected by acidity or alkalinity.Figure 7
MTO release curve of different NPs in media with pH 5.6 (◆, MTO-CHP; ▼, HSA-MTO-CHP) and 7.4 (◆, MTO-CHP; ▼, HSA-MTO-CHP).


## 3.1. FT-IR Analysis

As shown in Figure1, CHP showed a distinct ester carbonyl absorption peak near 1735 cm-1, while the carboxyl peak near 1708 cm-1 disappeared in the infrared spectrum of CHS. The absorption peaks of methyl and methylene groups near 2930 cm-1 were significantly enhanced, indicating that CHS was grafted on to pullulan.Figure 1
IR spectra of (a) CHP and (b) pullulan (c) CHS.


## 3.2. Characterization of Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

The average size distribution and polydispersity index (PDI) of MTO-CHP NPs was 166.9 nm and 0.213, respectively (Figure2(b)), so the NPs were stable and the particle size was uniform. As compared with CHP NPs (-1.21 mV) [7], the mean zeta potential of MTO-CHP NPs was −0.698±6.09 (mV) and higher (Figure 2(a)), so MTO decreased the electronegativity of CHP NPs, which corresponded to the positive electrochemistry of MTO due to the presence of imino groups [32]. The TEM image shows the spherical shape of MTO-CHP NPs (Figure 2(c)).Figure 2
Zeta potential (a), size distribution (b), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image (c) of MTO-CHP NPs.
(a)
(b)
(c)


## 3.3. ITC-Determined Characterizations of Free Drugs, CHP NPs, and Drug-Loaded CHP NPs Interacting with HSA

Figure3(a) shows MTO titration into HSA. The lines present positive and negative peaks during the titration process. At each titration, the positive peaks were almost the same, about 0.1125 μcal/sec, whereas the absolute value of negative peaks decreased with increasing drops from the second drop. The corresponding curve showed an increasing trend, and the dots were scattered and undulating.Figure 3
Isothermal calorimetry data for HSA titration into (a) MTO, (b) CHP, and (c) MTO-CHP NPs at 25°C.
(a)
(b)
(c)Corresponding thermodynamic parameters could be obtained from the curve. According to△G°=△H°−T△S°, △G°<0 indicates that the reaction proceeded spontaneously for MTO binding HSA via hydrophobic force, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen, and △H°<0 and △S°>0 indicate that the adsorption of MTO and HSA was mainly due to electrostatic interaction [33, 34]. MTO is electropositive due to its imino group, whereas HSA is electronegative. The mean coverage N of MTO on HSA was 12.4±1.02, and the mean binding constant KA was 77.9±5.37×105M−1 (Table 1), so MTO had high affinity with HSA. With the MTO dropped, the reactions released or absorbed heat, but the whole reaction was an endothermic process (Figure 3(a)). This finding may be due to the molar concentration of HSA being much less than that of MTO, which is diluted when the MTO is dropped, and the dilution process releases heat for hydration. The amount of heat release during each titration did not change, so the adsorption combination was independent of the dilution exotherm, and the reaction was mainly endothermic.Table 1
Degree of coverage, affinity (binding constant,KA), and enthalpy and entropy changes for binding with HSA titrated into the following sample solutions.
Sample
Coverage
KA (104 M-1)
ΔH° (kJ/mol)
ΔS° (kJ/mol·K)
MTOCHPMTO-CHP
12.4±1.021.17±0.0440.939±0.302
77.9±5.3727.7±3.260.832±0.278
7.112±0.7934.387±2.35346.505±16.1
0.0890.2511.634
Data aremean±SD.Figure3(b) shows the HSA titration into CHP NPs. During the titration process, the alternate lines show the positive and negative peaks, and the total area of the positive peaks was definitely larger than the total area of the negative peaks. The value of the negative peaks was basically unchanged at each titration, maintained at about -0.0125 μcal/sec; the value of the positive peak decreased with increasing drops. The curve shows a downward trend, and the dots were scattered but steady and close to the curve. △H°>0 and ΔS°>0 indicate that the interaction between HSA and CHP NPs was mainly caused by hydrophobic interactions [33, 35]. CHP contains an inner hydrophobic core and an outer shell of hydrophilic groups, whereas HSA has hydrophobic amino acid residues. Therefore, CHP and HSA are close and bind with each other because of the hydrophobic interaction. According to △G°=△H°−T△S°, △G°<0 indicates that the adsorption reaction of HSA and CHP NPs proceeded spontaneously by the hydrophobic interaction. The mean coverage of HSA on CHP NPs was 1.17±0.044, and the mean KA was 27.7±3.26×104M−1 (Table 1), so the affinity between the two was high. The curve had an endothermic and exothermic part, but the latter was definitely larger than the former, finally showing an exothermic appearance. The endothermic part is likely due to the weak electronegativity of CHP NPs, which exerts the repulsive force of the same charge with HSA helping the system absorb minute amounts of heat during the HSA titration each time.Figure3(c) shows the HSA titrating into MTO-CHP NPs. The graph shows two small negative peaks at the first two drops in the experiment, which did not appear after that. A positive peak appeared after the first drop, and its value decreased with increasing drops. The corresponding curve had a downward trend, and the dots were neat, basically falling on the curve. On the basis of △H°>0, △S°>0, to △G°<0, the reaction proceeded spontaneously, and the main driving force in the reaction was hydrophobic interaction between the two. The mean coverage of HSA on drug-loaded NPs was 0.939±0.302, and the mean KA was 8.32±2.78×103M−1 (Table 1), so the affinity between the two was low. The curve does not show an endothermic phenomenon except for the first two drops, showing an exothermic phenomenon, because HSA takes the surface amino acid residues as active sites, adsorbs on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs by the hydrophobic reaction, and then gradually complexes into its hydrogel matrix. A part of the heat release should be considered to result from the emptying effect [35]. Hence, the entropy of the system was increased, and the free energy in the corresponding unit contact area was reduced. The endothermic part in the curve is likely due to the combination between the HSA molecule and the free MTO released from the MTO-CHP. Because the free MTO is only a small portion and the HSA increase goes faster than the drug release while the HSA is continuously titrated, gradually, the exothermic combinations of HSA and CHP NPs are predominant.Both the coverage and binding constants were greater in Figure3(a) than in Figure 3(b), so the affinity of HSA for MTO was higher than that of HSA for CHP NPs likely because of the electropositivity of MTO, electronegativity of HSA, and weak electronegativity of CHP NPs. HSA is easier to combine with oppositely charged species, so the affinity with MTO was higher.Figures3(a) and 3(c) show that the two binding effects were endothermic and exothermic, respectively. The binding constant and coverage were much higher in Figure 3(a) than in Figure 3(c), so the affinity of HSA was much higher for MTO than for MTO-CHP NPs. This finding may be due to MTO being encapsulated in CHP NPs, and the affinity of CHP NPs being much lower for HSA than MTO, resulting in decreased affinity for MTO-CHP NPs.In contrast, Figures3(b) and 3(c) both show exothermic phenomena. However, the binding constants and coverage were definitely less in Figure 3(c) than in Figure 3(b), reflecting the lower affinity of HSA for MTO-CHP NPs than CHP. This finding may be due to the competition between MTO and HSA in combination with CHP. MTO occupies the binding site of HSA on CHP NPs, and the binding of the two is restricted by each other, for decreased affinity of HSA for MTO-CHP NPs.CHP NPs, as carrier-loaded NPs with MTO, could effectively solve the problem of drug clearance and the therapeutic effect caused by HSA binding, therefore exerting a better therapeutic effect. MTO-CHP NPs combined with HSA will result in slow release of MTO and prolonged duration of activity perhaps because of adsorption between MTO and HSA. HSA combined with CHP NPs and MTO in the same process could reduce the clearance rate of MTO.


## 3.4. Fluorescence Spectroscopy Determination of Interactions of Drug, CHP, and Drug-Loaded CHP NPs with HSA

The peak position and peak shape of the fluorescence emission peaks for HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs were basically almost similar (Figures4(a) and 4(b)). The maximum value of fluorescence emission intensities was at 342 nm owing to the effect of the tryptophan residue in the HSA molecule [27], so CHP NPs and HSA formed a complex. When the NPs were completely combined with HSA and at the beginning of the process, the fluorescence intensity for HSA was greatly decreased, and MTO-CHP NPs more strongly quenched HSA fluorescence intensity than did CHP NPs.Figure 4
Fluorescence spectra for HSA in phosphate buffer with pH 7.40 at 25°C. (a) a → d represents the fluorescence spectra of the beginning of reaction for HSA, HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively. (b) a → c represents the fluorescence spectra for HSA and MTO, HSA and CHP NPs, and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs, respectively, after the reaction was completed at 15 h. (c) Change in maximum fluorescence intensity as a function of time combined with MTO (a), CHP NPs (b), and MTO-CHP NPs (c).
(a)
(b)
(c)The maximum fluorescence intensity of HSA varied with complexation time (Figure4(c)). When MTO was combined with HSA, the fluorescence intensity decreased within 3 h, then remained stable, so the complexation of MTO and HSA completed quickly. When HSA was combined with CHP or MTO-CHP, the fluorescence intensity decreased rapidly within 0-6 h and slowly within 6-18 h. The initially rapid decrease in fluorescence intensity was due to the fast adsorption of HSA to NPs, and the slow decrease was due to the gradual complexation between them. Therefore, we considered the compound obtained at 15 h as a completely formed complex.


## 3.5. Characterization of the Compound of HSA with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

The mean size distribution, PDI, and zeta potential changes for MTO-CHP NPs with HSA at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 h are in Figures5(a) and 5(b) and Table 2. From 0 to 12 h, the mean particle size increased from 89.91 to 144.4 nm, which indicates the interaction between HSA and MTO-CHP NPs and the integration of HSA. From 12 to 18 h, the increase in mean particle size slowed, so HSA was basically complexed with MTO-CHP NPs. PDI changed from 0.508 and 0.514 at the beginning of the reaction to 0.210 after 15 h of reaction, because multiple HSA was rapidly adsorbed on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs and there were many substances in the composite system. When HSA adsorbed on the surface gradually merged into the core of the NPs, the composite reaction was completed, and the dispersion was gradually stabilized with the decreased PDI value.Figure 5
Zeta potential (a), size distribution (b), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images (c) of HSA-MTO-CHP NPs, with different times of complexation.
(a)
(b)
(c)Table 2
Mean size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential changes of MTO-CHP NPs and HSA at different combination times.
Time (h)
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
Size (nm)
89.91
109.4
114.3
120.4
144.4
144.7
145.2
PDI
0.508
0.514
0.304
0.285
0.199
0.210
0.231
Zeta (mV)
-15
-7.22
-4.7
-3.74
-3.46
-3.08
-3.073The zeta potential gradually changed from -15 to -0.307 mV, because the charge of HSA was -15 mV [36], whereas MTO-CHP NPs were almost uncharged, which further indicated a composite reaction between HSA and MTO-CHP NPs. The charge was redistributed by electrostatic interaction, and the absolute value of the overall potential decreased.TEM revealed that MTO-CHP NPs remained spherical after 15 h of reaction with HSA (Figure5(c)). HSA did not change the morphology of MTO-CHP NPs. HSA may enter into the core of MTO-CHP NPs or be evenly distributed on the surface of MTO-CHP NPs.


## 3.6. Changes in Secondary Structure with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs Combined with HSA

The CD spectra for HSA shows a negative peak at 208 nm, considered as a characteristic peak of theα-helical structure [37]. The proportion of α-helix contents for free HSA was 52.3%, and that at the beginning of the adsorption of MTO, CHP, and MTO-CHP decreased to 50.0%, 46.9%, and 43.7%, respectively (Table 3). The proportion after maximum adsorption of MTO, CHP, and MTO-CHP was 49.4%, 41.8%, and 39.1%, respectively (Figures 6(a) and 6(b)). The ellipticity at 208 nm was almost unchanged after 3 h when HSA interacted with MTO but was stabilized until 9 h when HSA interacted with CHP and MTO-CHP (Figure 6(c)). Thus, the HSA adsorption of MTO was rapid; moreover, MTO changed the secondary structure of HSA to a small extent. The combination of HSA with CHP and MTO-CHP was slow, and HSA complexed into its hydrogel matrix gradually. During this process, HSA was pulled by the hydrophobic interaction of the CHP hydrophobic core and the hydrophilic polysaccharide chain of the CHP surface, causing the HSA to deform and altering its secondary structure. Because of the double complex reaction between MTO-CHP and HSA (i.e., the interaction between CHP and HSA, MTO, and HSA), the secondary structure of HSA changed to a greater extent.Table 3
Theα-helix contents of HSA, including free HSA (Aa), HSA in the presence of MTO (Ab), CHP NPs (Ac), MTO-CHP NPs (Ad), and HSA completely combined with MTO (Ba), CHP NPs (Bb), and MTO-CHP NPs (Bc).
Project
Aa
Ab
Ac
Ad
Ba
Bb
Bc
α-Helix (%)
52.3
50.0
46.9
43.7
49.4
41.8
39.1Figure 6
Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism of HSA determined at pH 7.4 Tris-HCl buffer and constant temperature 25°C. (a) a → d represents CD changes of HSA (Aa), HSA and MTO (Ab), HSA and CHP NPs (Ac), and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs (Ad) at the beginning of complexation. (b) a → c represents the circular dichroism of HSA and MTO (Ba), HSA and CHP NPs (Bb), and HSA and MTO-CHP NPs (Bc) at 15 h of complexation. (c) The ellipticity of HSA at 208 nm corresponding to the reaction time with various substances.
(a)
(b)
(c)


## 3.7. Sustained Drug Release after HSA Complexed with Drug-Loaded CHP NPs

Figure7 shows the MTO release profile of MTO-CHP NPs in media with pH 5.6 or 7.4 and a composite with HSA in media with pH 5.6 or 7.4. MTO release had a biphasic character; that is, the drug was released rapidly in the first 12 h, at 56.73%, 39.82%, 32.45%, and 28.02%, respectively, and the drug release rate was slowed down within 12 to 48 h, with cumulative release percentages of 68.75%, 50.54%, 35.22%, and 31.68%, respectively. Because NPs capture hydrophobic drugs in two forms of loading, surface adsorption, and core loading, the surface-adsorbed drug was rapidly released, whereas the core-loaded drug was slowly and continuously released [38]. The drug release of the NPs complexed with HSA was much slower. This finding might have two explanations. First, HSA is rapidly bound to the surface of CHP NPs and then slowly enters the NP core and binds to the CHP hydrophobic domain, forming steric hindrance and weakening the hydrophobic interaction between MTO and CHP. Second, during the MTO release process, it may combine with the HSA adsorbed by the NPs. The drug release of MTO-CHP NPs was faster at pH 5.6 than at pH 7.4, mainly because the degree of protonation of MTO and water solubility became larger under acidic conditions [39]. However, the MTO-CHP NPs complexed with HSA had a low drug release rate under both pH 7.4 (physiological condition) and pH 5.6 (acidic condition) because the steric hindrance of HSA formation is large, and this property is not affected by acidity or alkalinity.Figure 7
MTO release curve of different NPs in media with pH 5.6 (◆, MTO-CHP; ▼, HSA-MTO-CHP) and 7.4 (◆, MTO-CHP; ▼, HSA-MTO-CHP).


## 4. Discussion

HSA can react with small molecular drugs, NPs, and drug-loaded NPs [40–42]. However, a number of fundamental principles have not been elucidated, including the binding force, binding coefficient, type of reaction, relationship between active and passive adsorption, and characteristics of their interactions [43–45]. The combination of HSA with drugs, NPs, and drug-loaded NPs definitely affects their structure, distribution, toxicity, and effectiveness of related drugs [46]. Understanding the characteristics of HSA-associated interactions, especially the HSA effect on drug release from drug-loaded NPs, holds great potential for improving drug delivery in the clinical applications.We prepared CHP NPs loaded with MTO (MTO-CHP NPs) with size 166.9 nm. The interaction between MTO-CHP NPs was mainly by hydrophobic interaction force, electrostatic force, and hydrogen bond. MTO-CHP NPs could quench the fluorescence intensity of HSA. And the fluorescence intensity gradually decreased to be balanced at 9 h. At the same time, the particle size and potential remained stable, accompanied by a size change from 89.91 to about 145 nm and potential change from -15 to -3 mV. With MTO-CHP NPs combined with HSA, the change in ellipticity of HSA at 208 nm was similar to that of fluorescence spectra and DLS measurements. The proportion ofα-helixes was decreased until combination for 9 h. The release of MTO from MTO-CHP NPs at pH=5.6 was significantly accelerated, whereas that of MTO from HSA-MTO-CHP NPs was significantly reduced. And the drug release was significantly slowed down even under acidic conditions, which indicates the beneficial effect of HSA on the persistence and stability of the HSA-MTO-CHP NP compound.In general, the interaction of HSA with small molecular drugs, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and flurbiprofen, is relatively simple, rapid, and reversible, reaching a saturation state in a short time [47]. Two mechanisms are believed involved in the interaction between NPs and HSA. The first is the “nanocrystalline corona,” whereby small NPs produce a corona on the surface of the protein [48]. The second is the “protein corona,” whereby proteins form a corona around NPs. The combination of different NPs cannot be separated from electrostatic interaction, van der Waals force, hydrogen bond, and hydrophobic interaction [49].The reaction between drug-loaded NPs and HSA is complicated. Some drugs form strong space resistance and block the reaction of HSA with drug-loaded NPs. For example, after pHPMA NPs are loaded with DOX, the structure cannot be captured by the network structure formed by the pHPMA chain or diffused through the loose pHPMA NP shell into the cholesterol core of pHPMA NPs [15]. Ghosh et al. studied the interaction of MPNPs and HSA with morin. Morin in the MPNP surface initially bound to HSA, forming morin-HSA, which in turn bound to the NP surface. Morin encapsulated in the MPNPs matrix may also be adsorbed by the complexed HSA, resulting in a surface-induced steric resistance effect, which limited the release of morin from MPNPs [16].In the present study, we systematically investigated the reaction of MTO-CHP NPs with HSA. As shown in Figure2, HSA interacted with MTO-CHP NPs similar to CHP NPs and HSA. Because of the hydrophobic interaction, HSA was rapidly adsorbed to the surface of MTO-CHP NPs by electrostatic interaction. Because of the hydrophobic section of the NP core and the resistance of the hydrophilic polysaccharide chain on its surface, HSA gradually complexed into the core of NPs and combined with the cholesterol group, forming HSA-MTO-CHP NPs. In DOX-loaded pHPMA NPs, the hydrophobicity of DOX is smaller than that of MTO, and DOX is distributed in the pHPMA shell, which results in large steric resistance hindering the adsorption of HSA [15]. However, the mean coverage of HSA and MTO-CHP NPs was 0.939±0.302, and the mean binding constant was 0.832±0.278×104M−1, which was much smaller than that for HSA and CHP NPs. The fluorescence quenching of HSA was evident, accompanied by a significant decrease in α-helix content in HSA.According to previous research [22], MTO can react with HSA and stabilize domain I in the hydrophobic region of HSA via hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction. The CHP NPs package MTO prepared by dialysis self-assembly, physical adsorption, or MTO-coated CHP NPs, and the latter is encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of CHP NPs via hydrophobic interaction. So, the interaction between HSA and MTO-CHP NPs may differ from that of HSA and CHP NPs for two reasons. First, MTO reacts with HSA. When the combined drug is released, drug release is hindered by the presence of HSA. In addition, the high affinity between MTO and HSA indicates that MTO is secondarily combined with HSA adsorbed on CHP NPs. This result is consistent with Ghosh et al. [16]. Second, HSA competes with MTO. Both HSA and MTO bind to the hydrophobic region of CHP NPs via hydrophobic interaction. Our ITC results showed that the affinity and coverage of HSA and MTO-CHP NPs were relatively low. All features met our expectations.Blood contains opsonins, integrins, immunoglobulins, complement proteins, fibrinogens, etc., which are easily adsorbed on the surface of NPs, thereby promoting the recognition and phagocytosis of NPs by macrophages and removing NPs from the blood or their accumulation in immune organs such as liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The targeting of drug-loaded nanometers is interfered by combination with these proteins [50, 51]. However, HSA-complexed NPs could block the absorption of other serum proteins including opsonin and integrin [52], thereby prolonging the blood circulation of drug-loaded NPs in vivo and enhancing their passive targeting.The design and application of nanoformulations require understanding the interaction between drug-loaded NPs and HSA. HSA-complexed NPs can be used as an ideal model to explore the potential applications of albumin nanosystems in vivo.


## 5. Conclusion

This study found that MTO-CHP NPs interact with HSA, with hydrophobic interactions playing a major role. Combining HSA and MTO-CHP NPs is a slow process. Because of the hydrophobic interaction, HAS first adsorbs on the surface of CHP-MTO NPs, then gradually complexes into its hydrogel matrix, resulting in the increased size and potential changes of MTO-CHP NPs. In addition, the combination alters the secondary structure of HSA and itsα-helix content. In addition, the complexation of HSA enhances the sustained MTO release from MTO-CHP NPs, and the drug release adapts to acidic conditions, thereby improving the stability of the drug release.



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*Source: 8036863-2019-05-16.xml*